The men's tournament is named the Bank of China Hong Kong Hong Kong Tennis Open, an ATP 250 tournament leading up to the Australian Open, and is held in early January every year starting in 2024. The women's tournament is named the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open, a WTA 250 tournament, and is held in early October every year starting in 2014.
The Hong Kong Tennis Open was previously named the Salem Open that began in 1973 and discontinued in 2002. After a 21-year absence, the men's tournament resumed in January 2024. The women's tournament commenced in 1980 and was discontinued two years later. In 1993, the tournament returned for one year before being discontinued until 2014 where it has become a permanent fixture of the Asian swing on the WTA Tour.
History
The Hong Kong Open (also known as the Salem Open[1]) was also previously a men's tennis tournament that was held in Hong Kong on the Grand Prix tour from (1973–1987) and the ATP Tour from (1990–2002). Players competed in the Victoria Park Tennis Centre, on outdoor hard courts. Michael Chang held the record number of wins with three titles.
In 2001, as with legislation restricting tobacco sponsorship, organizers controversially altered its official logo to include the logo of Perrier, causing anti-smoking campaigners to claim that the organizers exploited a loophole in its sponsorship clause.[2]
The men's tournament was replaced in 2003 by the Thailand Open.
A women's competition was also held in Hong Kong from 1980 to 1982; and then once more in 1993, as a Tier IV event on the WTA Tour. Wendy Turnbull won two titles in this competition. Beginning in 2014, the Hong Kong Tennis Open resumed after a two decade absence, sponsored by the Hong Kong-based insurance company Prudential.[3] The tournament was honored as the WTA International Tournament of the Year in 2018.[4]
As announced by the Association of Tennis Professionals in June 2023, the ATP 250 license belonging to Pune, Maharashtra was relocated to Hong Kong.[8] The first iteration of the tournament took place from 1–7 January on outdoor hard courts with a total prize money of more than $650,000. The tournament, sponsored by the Bank of China (Hong Kong), is expected to be a stop for players on their way to the Australian Open.[9]