Stars to turn out for HK

World No 5 Andrey Rublev will begin his 2024 season at the Bank of China Hong Kong Open when the ATP Tour returns to the city for the first time in more than 20 years, organizers said.

The 26-year-old Russian will be joined by Grand Slam semi-finalists Frances Tiafoe and Karen Khachanov for the December 31-January 7 event at Victoria Park, an important warm-up for the Australian Open.

Men last competed for the Hong Kong Open in 2002 and former champions include Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Pat Cash, Ivan Lendl and Jimmy Connors.

Australian great Rod Laver won the inaugural edition in 1973.

"The quality of the players will re-acquaint those who fondly remember the premier competition the city hosted in the 1990s and early 2000s, while also creating anticipation for new audiences at the excitement to come," said Philip Mok, president of the Hong Kong, China Tennis Association.

Phoebe Tse, general manager, Commercial Banking Department, Bank of China (Hong Kong) added: "BOCHK is honored to join hands with HKCTA to bring the ATP Tour and global tennis players back to our world-class city, bolstering Hong Kong's dynamic image."

The fiery Rublev, who will be top seed, won two titles this year, at Bastad in Sweden and Monte Carlo.

American Tiafoe, ranked 16th in the world, rose to prominence at the 2022 US Open, where he lost an epic five-set semi-final to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz, having knocked out Rafael Nadal in the last 16.

Russia's Khachanov also has recent Grand Slam pedigree.

He reached the semi-finals of the US Open in 2022, losing to Casper Ruud, and got to the last four of this year's Australian Open where he lost to Stefanos Tsitsipas.

"I'm looking forward to helping bring back ATP Tour excitement to the city for the first time since the early 2000s," said Khachanov.

Croatian Marin Cilic, the 2014 US Open champion, will begin his injury comeback at the event. The 35-year-old had knee surgery after suffering an injury in January. He only played one match for the rest of the year, sliding to 666th in the world.