HONG KONG, December 4, 2024 (Press Release)
Hong Kong, China Tennis Association (“HKCTA”) announced a stellar line-up of global tennis stars at the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open (“BOCHKTO”) Press Conference today as six of the world’s top players have confirmed their participation at BOCHKTO 2025. The ATP 250 event will take place from 29 December 2024 to 5 January 2025 at the iconic Victoria Park Tennis Centre Court.
Four of the World’s Top 20 Join the Main Draw
The World’s top 20 players including Lorenzo Musetti, Karen Khachanov, and Arthur Fils will join defending champion and world No. 8 Andrey Rublev at BOCHKTO 2025, one of the ATP 2025’s season opening events, before they head to Melbourne for the first Grand Slam of the year, the Australian Open.
Italian No. 2 and world No. 17 Musetti has enjoyed a stellar 2024 season with a first Grand Slam semifinal appearance at Wimbledon and a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics. He achieved his highest world ranking of 15th in June 2023 and was part of his nation’s Davis Cup-winning team that year.
The 22-year-old Musetti reached the round of 16 at BOCHKTO last year. He said: “I am excited to start my ATP season once again under the lights in Hong Kong. I enjoyed the experience so much last year and I can’t wait to come back. I hope to go deep into the draw this time and start 2025 with some fireworks on and off the court.”
The 28-year-old Khachanov ended his 2024 campaign at No. 19 having reached as high as No. 8 in 2019. He has seven ATP Tour titles to his name, including a Masters 1000 win in Paris in 2018. This season, he won his sixth ATP Tour title at the 2024 Qatar ExxonMobil Open in February, and then claimed his seventh ATP Tour title in October at the 2024 Almaty Open.
Fils has enjoyed his best ever season since turning professional in 2021. Rounding off the world’s top 20, the Frenchman is currently sitting on his best world ranking, helped by his first ATP 500 title win in Hamburg in July, knocking out local favourite Alexander Zverev in the final. The ATP Tour Newcomer of the Year in 2023 made it through to the quarterfinal at BOCHKTO 2024 before losing to eventual champion Rublev.
Back to Business – Norrie and Shapovalov
2022 Wimbledon singles semifinalist Cameron Norrie and Canadian ace Denis Shapovalov are also set to play in their first BOCHKTO this December. 29-year-old Norrie finished his 2024 on a high note when he reached the final of the Moselle Open in November after a forearm injury that forced him out of the Paris Olympics and the entire North American hardcourt season. The Brit has returned to the top 50 in the world rankings and looks set to start his 2025 season in fine form. Like Norrie, Shapovalov also enjoyed some late season success. A second ATP Tour title of his career at the Serbia Open the same week as Norrie’s run in France took him back to just outside the top 50. With three quarterfinal or better finishes at Grand Slams to his name, the Canadian is one to watch out for at BOCHKTO 2025.
Chinese Players on the Rise
With Shang Juncheng and Bu Yunchaokete flying the flag for China, and Coleman Wong Chak-lam making a name for himself on the Challenger tour, these talented youngsters will look to start their season with a strong showing at the BOCHKTO 2025 draw. Shang’s semifinal run last year will no doubt inspire Bu and Wong as each of them seeks to reach his next respective career milestones.
Hon. Secretary of HKCTA and Chairman of Hong Kong Tennis Open Steering Committee, Oscar Chow, added: “What a thrill for HKCTA to have Bu Yunchaokete confirmed for BOCHKTO 2025. Last year, Shang Juncheng impressed us all with his stunning run to his first ATP semifinal before embarking on his breakthrough season on the tour. We hope Bu and Coleman can be inspired by the cheers of the local crowd and make a deep run at BOCHKTO 2025 as they continue their rise in the world rankings.”
Court Reshaped – Tennis Icon Joins the Field
Former US Open finalist and Olympic medalist Kei Nishikori has also confirmed to play at BOCHKTO for the first time. The Japanese veteran, who will celebrate his 35th birthday on the opening day of BOCHKTO 2025, is back to his winning ways, having finished his season with an ATP Challenger title in Helsinki. In a stellar career that began in 2007, the Matsue native was the first man from Asia to reach a US Open final (in 2014), and first from the region to qualify for the ATP Finals, reaching the semifinals in 2014 and 2016. Hip surgery ruled him out of the 2022 season and a further knee injury at the end of 2023 meant that the former world No. 4 was only able to begin mounting his comeback earlier this year.
HKCTA President Michael Cheng said: “We are grateful to once again receive the support of the Major Sports Event Committee and proud to be an “M” Mark event. BOCHKTO 2025 is the finale of the Hong Kong Tennis Season, and with the support of our sponsor and the SAR government, we have been able to welcome an elite field of international stars to the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open in December. We are proud to contribute to Hong Kong’s mega event economy and excited to open 2025 with one of the highest standard spectator events of the year in Hong Kong.”
Mr. Edmund Kam, General Manager, Head of Private Banking, Bank of China (Hong Kong) said: “BOCHK is delighted to be the title sponsor of this ATP 250 international mega sports event again and become the Lead Partner of HKCTA for the first time. Renowned players will gather at this event, thereby attracting more fans to cheer for them in person. Everyone is welcome to visit and has fun at the BOCHK booth filled with exciting tennis-themed games and photo spots in the Tournament Village. In addition to the ATP Tour, Bank of China (Hong Kong) sponsors other local tennis and sports events to promote the sustainable development of sports activities in Hong Kong and a healthy lifestyle in the community.”
Pat Cash and Mark Woodforde Confirmed as Tournament Ambassadors
BOCHKTO 2025 is delighted to announce former Wimbledon Singles’ Champion Pat Cash and Mark Woodforde, winner of 67 men’s doubles’ titles including 12 Grand Slams as tournament ambassadors. Both legends competed at Victoria Park Tennis Centre Court 30 years ago.
Fan Village Fun Complements the Intensity of the On-court Action
The Tournament Village will continue to bring a day’s worth of fun to every fan who comes through the gates of BOCHKTO. A host of family-friendly activities including face painting and temporary tattoos to ensure every child leaves BOCHKTO 2025 full of colour and happiness. Visitors can marvel at the talent of Dennis the juggler, and be mesmorised by the artistic skills or rainbow calligraphy by Master Dragon as they entertain visitors at various times during tournament week.
Those looking to purchase New Year gifts and souvenirs need to look no further than Hong Kong Crafts Market, which will offer a variety of original, tennis-themed arts & crafts, snacks, and one-of-a-kind collectables made by creatively talented local entrepreneurs.
The pop of the tennis ball and the loud cheers of fans after an ace will not be the only sounds heard at BOCHKTO 2025 as the organisers have invited a number of local musicians to perform. These include experimental vocal group Metapella and busker Yan Ching Wong at Musicsus with his original creations and covers of some of the most popular Chinese language pop hits.
BOCHKTO 2025 is a green event and looks to educate members of the public the importance of recycling. Joining Metapella and Yan Ching Wong to share their passion for music is percussion group Bombak, who create music by using abandoned products and recyclable materials. This year’s Fan Village also has a creative corner for children to create and decorate their own music instruments with waste materials. In addition to being a paperless event for the first time, used match balls will be utilised for player autographs for fans and across HKCTA training programmes and community initiatives to further reduce waste.
For the tennis fanatics, there are tennis-themed games that test reaction, coordination, and speed as well as a pickle ball court for all who want to show off their racket & ball control skills or simply wish to try out this emerging sport. A giant screen with comfortable seating will ensure no one needs to miss a beat of the action, no matter where you are within the grounds of Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open.
To share the excitement of BOCHKTO with the entire community, the public can enjoy free access to the qualifying rounds of the BOCHKTO 2025 on 29 December 2024. Gold-level tickets range from HK$370 to HK$1,610, and silver-level tickets range from HK$270 to HK$1,260. The Tournament Village located just outside the centre court is free for all throughout the event.
Tickets for BOCHKTO 2025 are available for purchase at www.tickets.tennishk.org/atp250-2025.
