More Stars Confirmed to Compete in 2015 Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open

Former World Number One and two time Grand Slam Champion Victoria Azarenka, Canadian superstar Eugenie Bouchard and fast-rising Spanish sensation and World Number Nine Garbiñe Muguruza will add star quality to the 2015 Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open from 10-18 October at Victoria Park in Hong Kong.

Azarenka, Bouchard and Muguruza are the latest big name players to be announced for the US$250,000 WTA International Series event, which has already attracted stars such as American 7-time Grand Slam Champion Venus Williams, defending champion Sabine Lisicki of Germany and French ace Caroline Garcia.

The star-studded field will also include France’s No. 1 player and World No. 27 Alizé Cornet, adding more depth to an already packed player field.

“We are extremely excited to see players like Victoria, Eugenie and Garbiñe join Venus and Sabine at this year’s event, and I look forward to seeing all of them playing on Centre Court and meeting Hong Kong fans, who are really in for a treat this year,” said Chris Lai, Tournament Director & Hong Kong Tennis Association Chief Executive. “We are thrilled to have such a great line up of players, mixing together rising talents and established stars for what will be the most competitive women’s tennis tournament in Hong Kong’s history and one of the strongest WTA International Series player fields in the world.”

After an injury hampered 2014, Azarenka is showing signs of returning to the form which saw her capture successive Australian Open titles (in 2012 and 2013) defeating Top 5 players Petra Kvitova and Caroline Wozniacki in recent weeks and reaching the quarter-finals of Wimbledon, taking eventual champion Serena Williams to 3 sets. Currently ranked 20th, Azarenka is on her way back up the ladder and looking to add to her 17 career WTA singles titles.

21-year-old Bouchard took the tennis world by storm in 2014, becoming the first Canadian to reach the finals of a Grand Slam in singles at last year’s Wimbledon Championships, finishing runner-up to Petra Kvitova. She also reached the semi-finals of the 2014 Australian Open and 2014 French Open, reaching a high of No. 5 in the rankings and ending the year by winning the WTA Most Improved Player award. A fan favourite, Bouchard was named the world’s most marketable athlete by Sports Pro Magazine earlier this year.

While all eyes will be on Azarenka and Bouchard, Spanish star Muguruza is expected to be the one to follow in the 32-strong singles draw. World No. 9 Muguruza reached the final at Wimbledon this year losing to Serena Williams, but winning fans the world over with her humble charisma and grace. Last year she pulled off a sensational win over World No. 1 and defending champion Serena Williams en route to the French Open quarter-finals before losing to eventual champion Maria Sharapova in three sets and she reached the quarter-finals again a year later in 2015.

The tournament also unveiled details of its 2015 community and public engagement initiatives. In addition to offering free tickets to schools and other groups, the first day of the main draw, 12 October, will be known as ‘People’s Monday’ and will offer free admission to the public for all matches.

In addition, free admission for matches on Courts 1 and 2 will be available throughout the tournament, as well as for the qualifying event, which takes place on 10 & 11 October. The Tournament Village, located next to the stadium will also be open to the public for the first time from 12-18 October, where fans can take part in an array of tennis based games and activities, watch the action on the big screen, enjoy a variety of food and beverage options and rub shoulders with their idols during one of the star player autograph sessions.

Additionally the tournament will be reaching out to the wider community through a number of ‘Tennis on the Go’ roadshows in prime locations around Hong Kong, to include Plaza Hollywood, the iconic Tsim Sha Tsui Clock Tower and on East Point Road in Causeway Bay starting 3 September.

Ticket prices for 13–18 October range from HK$160 to HK$880 and can be purchased at Cityline and Tom Lee Music outlets