Ace in Paradise: A Tennis Fan’s Delight at the WTA Thailand Open in Hua Hin
If you’re a tennis fan residing in Thailand, get ready for a treat of epic proportions! Join me for the WTA Thailand Open at Arena Hua Hin unfolding from January 29 to February 4, 2024. As I gear up for my fourth attendance at the Hua Hin Tennis, let me share why the Thai tennis experience has stolen my heart and why you absolutely shouldn’t miss this stellar event if you find yourself in the vicinity.
What is the WTA Thailand Open?
Thailand Open is a professional WTA tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It will be the 4th Thailand Open held this year as part of the WTA 250 tournaments on the 2024 WTA Tour.
Commencing with the qualifying rounds scheduled for January 27-28, 2024, the Thailand Open will unfold its main draw competition from January 29 to February 4, 2024. Get ready for an exciting showcase of tennis prowess in this eagerly awaited event.
Let’s go to the WTA Thailand Open Tennis in Hua Hin.
I enjoy women’s pro tennis here in Thailand My tennis wanderings have taken me to Roland Garros, Wimbledon, Malaysian Open, Australian Open not to mention plenty of ITF and WTA regional tournaments. We are so lucky to have this tournament in our own backyard here in Asia.
‘The WTA Thailand Open offers fans and the players a winning combination. We get the best of tennis and the best of Thailand in the Hua Hin beach location‘. Little Wandering Wren
So read on, I’ll show you what’s on offer and some of the exciting developments for the WTA Thailand Open 2024.
See the world’s best women’s players
Hot on the heels of the Australian Open, you can watch some of the world’s best female tennis players in action.
The WTA Thailand Open is big news for tennis in Thailand with total prize money of USD 267,082, or approximately THB 9.4 million. In 2024 the list of currently announced players can be found here and you will notice familiar names from the world’s top 100 players in action:
Player news
The entry list is led by 2023 Australian Open semifinalist Magda Linette, who won the WTA Thailand Open during its staging as an international WTA event in 2020. There are five other players ranked in the world’s Top 50 (entry ranking) have signed up to play in this tournament, including China’s No. 2 player Lin Zhu.
I shall of course, be cheering for my fellow Aussie Ajla Tomljanovic, if you are from Germany, Poland, The Netherlands, France, Spain, the United States, and more, you will be able to cheer your homeland stars.
Paula Bodosa sends a message to fans as she counts down to her Thailand Open debut.
See the full WTA Thailand Open 2024 draw here
Get to know the Thai Tennis Talent
On a personal note, I look forward to acquainting myself with some of our talented local Thai tennis players who will be granted wildcard entries to participate. The tournament holds the potential to significantly impact tennis nationwide, and one can’t help but wonder if the next Paradorn Srichaphan is quietly observing from the spectator stands.
Keep your eyes peeled for Paradorn, as he assumes the role of Tournament Co-Director for the year 2024!
See the Qualifying Competition
I always love the Qualifying Tournaments at tennis tournaments, you can see some incredible matches.
Here in Thailand, 24 players will enter the Qualifying Tournament on January 27-28 2024. They need to win three consecutive matches for a converted place in the main draw.
More details on the WTA Thailand Open Qualies are found here
Where is the Hua Hin Tennis Tournament?
The tournament takes place at the remarkable Arena Hua Hin a stunning regional sports complex. A few years ago, they made a delightful change by transforming the courts into a charming shade of pink, don’t you love this?
Distinguished as the sole sunken court in Southeast Asia and crafted in the likeness of Rod Laver Arena, this venue boasts a sheltered grandstand accommodating up to 2,500 fervent tennis fans. In Hua Hin, every seat offers a fantastic view, but I’m curious to see if they’ve enhanced shade provisions for the side court seats in 2024.
As a helpful tip, aiming for tickets in the main shaded grandstand is my recommendation for an optimal viewing experience.
Weather
Anticipate delightful February weather in Hua Hin, with temperatures comfortably hovering in the low 30s °C throughout most of the week. Although keep an eye on the pollution weather, the only thing that might dampen my spirits for this event!
Feel free to refer to our previous posts for insights on what essentials to pack for the tennis. This blog entry is a treasure trove of advice on managing the experience of watching tennis in the warm weather.
For a good cause
In 2020, the WTA Thailand Open successfully raised more than $50,000 for a breast cancer charity. Here’s to hoping for a similar impactful initiative this year.
Food, drinks, shopping, and happy toilets.
During my previous attendance, there was a compact food and beverage court, a few sportswear stalls, and opportunities for photography and tennis-related activities. I am eagerly anticipating the enhancements in this area for the upcoming event. Fingers crossed for the return of the delightful Happy Toilets!
Beach Location
Since the 1920s, Hua Hin has served as a beloved weekend retreat from Bangkok, initially established with summer palaces by the Thai Royal family. Renowned for its expansive beach, excellent for activities like kitesurfing and various water sports, Hua Hin Beach has remained a cherished destination. For comprehensive details on attractions and activities, look no further: See TAT Tourism Thailand’s Hua Hin
No wonder both players and spectators are happy to visit Hua Hin!
Where to Stay
The official hotel partners are the Intercontinental Hotel and Resorts and the Holiday Inn Resort Vana Nava Hua Hin but you’ll have plenty of choice from a variety of hotels.
This time we will be staying at the Dusit D2 which is new and conveniently located for the tennis, I can’t wait to tell you all about it!
The following Hua Hin hotels and resorts, we have enjoyed include Anantara Hua Hin here, and more here, The Hyatt Regency Hua Hin, Dusit Thani Hua Hin, Cape Nidra Hua Hin, and more about Cape Nidra & Hua Hin beach views.
Hua Hin activities
With the tennis matches, beach explorations, and relaxation at your fantastic hotel, time may be limited. Nonetheless, if you find a moment to spare, I highly suggest visiting Monsoon Valley Winery. Situated 35 km from Hua Hin, the winery provides convenient transportation options for a worthwhile experience.
It’s a tournament in the happening phase!
In 2019, I characterized the WTA Thailand Open as a tournament in its developmental phase. By 2020, it transitioned into a proving ground, and it’s evident that the WTA has consistently supported its evolution.
Now, I perceive the WTA Thailand Open as having entered the happening phase. The player interest is growing, the facilities have reached a commendable standard, and the prize money has seen a noteworthy increase. Thailand’s ambition to become a Regional Sporting Hub is evident.
The crucial element awaiting assessment is the size of the fan base in Thailand. Let’s rally together and head to Hua Hin to revel in the world-class tennis on display. The WTA Thailand Open promises an exciting journey into the heart of elite tennis.
C’mon, let’s all go to Hua Hin and enjoy the world-class tennis. This is too good an event not to miss!
Arena Hua Hin details
Tournament Location:
Arena Hua Hin
52/52 Petchkasem Road Hua Hin, Amphoe Hua Hin, Chang Wat Prachuap Khiri Khan 77110
+66 (0)32 909 633
Tickets
Admission to the tournament is complimentary. If you prefer a seat in the grandstand, tickets can be acquired through the Thailand Open website: http://wtathailandopen.com.
There’s exceptional value with a complete weekend of tennis priced at THB 2,000, and an exclusive Finals Day Pass available for THB 1,200.
For those seeking a premium experience, full VIP tickets start at THB 10,000.
Further tennis reading
Little Wandering Wren achieved her Fan Slam in 2023, attending all four Grand Slams worldwide. Dive deeper into her experiences through the following articles:
- What to pack for the tennis
- The Wimbledon Championships and how to be part of it in 2024
- How to enjoy ace days at Roland Garros
For all the tennis updates, do follow along on @littlewanderingwren’s Instagram and subscribe to this blog to follow Little Wandering Wren’s birds-eye view of the world here.
Happy Wandering and see you there!
4 comments
Hello,
Wow, this is right in your back yard. It would be fun to watch WTA Thailand and the best women tennis players. I know you will enjoy the event. Take care, have a great day and a happy new week!
Hi Eileen, I will so enjoy seeing the Tennis again in Hua Hin, the last time I was there was the last time the WTA Thailand Open played in February 2020. It was just before our Bangkok Pandemic lockdown started here in Thailand! It is great to see the tournament back and to see the ever increasing interest in both playing and watching as it grows from strength to strength.
…a gorgeous destination, thanks for taking me along to see the sights.
Thanks for joining us here in Hua Hin Thailand for a virtual tour, it’s a bit different from your snowy scenes in the UK. I hope you enjoyed the virtual tour of the WTA Thailand Open.