Google News Eugenie Bouchard at the center of an international incident between Hong Kong and the WTA
by FEDERICO COPPINI
Hong Kong Tennis Association accused the WTA of “bullying and intimidation”, after being fined 10.000 dollars for making "contemptuous" comments on Eugenie Bouchard’s last minute default in Hong Kong last September.
The HKTA president, Herbert Chow-Siu-Lung, said to the South China Morning Post that he has made recourse against the fine, asking for WTA’s excuse.
He also added that this punishment for the comments made is an attack to the freedom of speech.
“This fact will not affect the event in 2015, but the council will take into serious consideration if the WTA will be a long term partner or not.”
The WTA’s executive vice-president, Laurence Applebaum, replied that the HKTA, by criticizing Bouchard, violated the WTA’s international rules of conduct.
The Canadian had retired from the tournament because of tiredness, since the previous week she played the US Open. “Your words ‘Bouchard has failed to honor the commitment, by not keeping the promise’, questioned her integrity, reputation and financial interests” writes Applebaum.
“Tournaments should not make such comments in public, in order not to allow media’s attacks to tournaments, sponsors, players or WTA”.