Li Na, the trailblazing first Asian tennis player to win a Grand Slam singles title, is set to make a highly anticipated return to tennis as the tournament director for the Hong Kong Tennis Open, which will be held from October 28 to November 3.
It has been confirmed that Li, a two-time Grand Slam champion (2011 French Open and 2014 Australian Open), will oversee the WTA 250 event, played on hard courts at the iconic Victoria Park Tennis Stadium. In a video message, Li expressed her excitement, stating, “I am looking forward to witnessing the competition amongst these world-class female players. I also hope to add my own experience to help participating players push their own personal limits in achieving tournament success.”
This will be the seventh edition of the Hong Kong Tennis Open since its inclusion in the Asian Swing in 2014. This year’s tournament will feature a star-studded lineup, including two-time Grand Slam champion and former world No. 1 Simona Halep, British No. 1 Katie Boulter, 2024 Miami Open champion Danielle Collins, Wimbledon 2024 quarterfinalist Lulu Sun, defending Hong Kong champion Leylah Fernandez, former US Open champion Emma Raducanu, and Paris 2024 Olympic mixed doubles silver medalist Wang Xinyu. China’s rising stars Yuan Yue and Wang Xiyu, along with local players Eudice Chong and Cody Wong, will also compete at the $250,000 event.
Li Na, who retired a decade ago and reached a career-high ranking of No. 2, was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2019. Her appointment as tournament director aligns her with another former major champion, Garbine Muguruza, who was named tournament director for the inaugural WTA Finals in Riyadh earlier this year, marking a new chapter in both their post-playing careers.