Hong Kong Tennis Open: draw features first-round Ukraine-Russia meeting, top seed Azarenka faces awkward start
- Dayana Yastremska, who won the 2018 Open, will begin a belated title defence against Russia’s Mirra Andreeva, with whom there is bad blood over pro-Putin post
- Top seed Victoria Azarenka to face 2021 US Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez
The Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open draw has served up a first-round encounter on Monday between players from Ukraine and Russia, after reigning champion Dayana Yastremska was paired with 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva.
Ukraine’s Yastremska and Andreeva of Russia share recent history, following a falling-out at the Lausanne Open in July. Andreeva comfortably won the match, but Yastremska called for the WTA to sanction the teenager after she liked a social media post supporting Russian President Vladimir Putin.
No 1 seed Victoria Azarenka has been handed an awkward tie against Canadian Leylah Fernandez, the 2021 US Open runner-up.
Wang Xiyu, winner of last month’s Guangzhou Open, plays Katerina Siniakova of Czech Republic and another Chinese, Wang Xinyu, the No 4 seed, meets Elina Avanesyan of Russia.
The event at Victoria Park has returned after a five-year absence and features a host of leading players.
