Three marquee players at the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open (PHKTO 2026) – World No. 17 Alexandra Eala, Chinese star Wang Xinyu, and tournament No. 1 seed Sorana Cirstea – joined a group of generous donors at the first ever Hong Kong Tennis Foundation (HKTF) Pro-Am charity event to support the ongoing work of HKCTA Foundation, the charity arm of Hong Kong, China Tennis Association (HKCTA), for students, the special needs community and the development of wheelchair tennis.
Ms. Polly Chong, Commissioner for Sports of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, officiated the meaningful initiative, with Mr. Ronny Chow, Chairman of HKCTA’s CSR Committee, delivering the opening speech that shared the mission of the Foundation.
The three players, still going strong in the singles draw at PHKTO 2026, took time out from training to support the HKCTA Foundation by playing a series of friendly but competitive points with donors.
Tournament top seed Sorana Cirstea said, “I love tennis and I would like to stay close to the sport. Tennis has given me so much and I want to give back by sharing what I have learnt over my tennis journey. Playing Pro-Ams like this, especially for charity, brings me a lot of joy. I love Hong Kong, and I love being here. Tennis is so much fun, bring your friends, socialise and play sport at the same time. It is great for your mind.”
Established in 2020 by HKCTA, HKCTA Foundation is dedicated to empowering disadvantaged and under-resourced groups through tennis. Through training pathways, scholarships, and community programmes delivered in partnership with NGOs and schools across Hong Kong, over 6,000 people have benefited from the tireless efforts of the Foundation. Today, the funds raised will offer opportunities for underprivileged children, special needs youth, retirees, and people with disabilities to learn about living a healthier life through tennis, and as a result, appreciate better physical and mental wellbeing.
The success of the first ever HKTF Charity Pro-Am can lead to future fund-raisers through tennis, especially at the Hong Kong Tennis Season, of which PHKTO forms part of and attracts the best WTA players to the city every year.
Mr. Ronny Chow, Chairman of HKCTA’s CSR Committee, commented, “We would like to offer our sincere appreciation for our participants at the HKTF Charity Pro-Am today – to the donors for their more than generous donation, which allows us to go deeper into the community, and help empower those who need our help, and to Alex, Xinyu, and Sorana for their time today. With the latest funds, we can continue our efforts to leverage tennis as a tool to educate on inclusion and diversity, build confidence and self-belief, and help those who struggle with discovering the art of long-term well-being.
HKCTA Foundation has been hosting annual charity golf events since 2021, with great success. We are delighted to be able to start a new initiative with tennis, especially during the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open week.”
In addition to community initiatives, PHKTO has been instrumental in providing local players with a unique opportunity to test themselves against some of the world’s best athletes on home soil, offering invaluable match experience and exposure at the highest level of the sport. The tournament has long served as an important pathway for emerging Hong Kong talents, allowing them to accelerate their development through direct competition with established international stars.
