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.
