Hong Kong youngsters aim to serve surprise in Junior Davis Cup finals
City is ready to take on the world having beaten Australia on their way to a strong third-place finish in Malaysia
Having beaten the best juniors Australia had to offer, Hong Kong's young tennis players are looking to make a name for themselves on the world stage at the Junior Davis Cup finals in Mexico this week.
Jack Wong Hong-kit, Jackie Tang and Lam Ching are in San Luis Potosi preparing to take on some of the best juniors in the world thanks to their third-place finish at the Asia/Oceania final qualifier in Kuching, Malaysia, in May. There they beat not only Australia 2-1, but also Taiwan 2-1 in the play-off for third/fourth.
I think the hard part for people here is they kind of assume everybody is better than them and that is the problem; while the United States goes in assuming they are better than anybody
Former world number six Elliot Telscher, who has just arrived in Hong Kong to join the national squad as head of player development, said the boys had the power of surprise.
"They should have a shot. [Facing the stronger teams] you never know, as they don't know you either," said American Telscher, who won 10 ATP titles in his career.
"I think the hard part for people here is they kind of assume everybody is better than them and that is the problem; while the United States goes in assuming they are better than anybody.
"They have that air of confidence, unfortunately here it's the other way around," said Telscher, who has set a target of Hong Kong players competing in grand slam events in "six to 10 years' time".
Wong, 16, the oldest and the only one who trains full-time, said this tournament marked the beginning of a new stage in his career.
"I want to attend all four [junior] grand slams next year, so I want to see how good the European and American players are as I rarely meet them in tournaments in Asia," said Wong.
"I was outside 800 in the world junior rankings a year ago, and now I am at 231. It is a huge leap, but I missed numerous chances to break into the top 200," said Wong.
"I will play in higher ranked tournaments to bag more points to enter the top 100 in the world. Even though this team event won't get me any ranking points, it is still be a valuable learning opportunity," he said.
Wong devoted himself fully to the sport after completing Form Three last year. He hopes the lucrative funding the sport will receive after rejoining the elite category at the Hong Kong Sports Institute next year will enable him to play in more tournaments outside Asia.
Tang, 15, hopes to go through the collegiate system in the US and turn professional one day.
He played his "best ever" match when teaming with Wong to win the crucial doubles against the Australians.
"I don't know any of the European or American players [in this tournament]. They have been playing pro tournaments already, so their level will be higher than us. We will be giving it our all, like we did against Australia," said Tang, who is juggling his academic studies with his tennis.
"Before I leave, I need to take tests in advance and some right after I am back. I am given assignments to complete on the way, but some have to wait as I need to redo the lab work first. I have a lot of homework to do, but I have the responsibility in tennis, so I have to balance it," said Tang.
During the summer Tang spent six weeks travelling to overseas tournaments. He won a grade four singles title in the South Pacific Open Junior Championships in Fiji in late June and reached the semi-finals in the Oceania Open Junior Championships also in Fiji.
Lam, 15, may be ranked more than 550 places lower than Wong, but he beat him at the Hong Kong National Junior Tennis Championships, which served as an internal selection for the team.
"I may not be as good in singles, but I believe I am at the same level in doubles," said Lam.
"I was determined to join the squad and I gave my best to beat Jack in order to qualify. Now I am excited to go to Mexico," said Lam.
