Tennis: Hong Kong’s Coleman Wong knows the Asian Games ‘will be anything but easy’ despite University Games medal success
- Hong Kong’s men’s tennis No 1 continues where he left off in Chengdu, winning first-round singles tie at Victoria Park
- Second seed Wong battles back from 5-2 down in first set to take victory as build-up to Hangzhou Games continues
Winning a medal at the recent World University Games has instilled a lot of confidence in Coleman Wong Chak-lam ahead of the Asian Games, but the Hong Kong tennis No 1 will not get carried away.
Playing his first match at Victoria Park since last year’s International Challenge, the 19-year-old was given a scare in Wednesday’s first-round tie at the ITF M25 tournament.
Second seed Wong battled back from 5-2 down in the first set to beat the South Korean qualifier Kim Young-seok 7-6(3), 7-5 after more than two hours and conquered another Korean player, Jeong Yeong-seok, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the second round.
The result continued Wong’s good form from last month, when he and partner Cody Wong Hong-yi secured a mixed doubles bronze for Hong Kong at the University Games in Chengdu – just the city’s fourth tennis medal since the 2017 Games in Taipei.
“It was great to win a medal for Hong Kong at a multi-sport Games and it also proved we can make it,” Wong said. “I enjoyed the atmosphere of representing Hong Kong in such a setting, and the team morale was really high.
“But we also know the Asian Games will be a higher level with a lot of strong opponents from regional powerhouses such as China, Japan and South Korea. It will be anything but easy.”
Wong said the ITF tournament at Victoria Park came at the right time in the build-up to the Hangzhou Games, where he will feature in all three events – the singles, doubles with Jack Wong Hong-kit, and mixed doubles with Eudice Chong.
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Coleman Wong and Jack Wong also won their men’s doubles opener at Victoria Park this week, beating compatriots Dasson Chan Kwok-shun and Ng Ki-lung in straight sets – 6-1, 6-4 – on Tuesday before eliminating a China and Chinese Taipei combination Mo Yecong and Yin Bang-Shuo 2-1 (4-6, 6-1, 10-4) in the second round.
“It’s good to have a tournament ahead of the Asian Games as we also have the Davis Cup next week,” Wong said. “I haven’t played with Jack for a while and we need some time to regain our understanding, which is important in doubles.
“But we will not think about the Asian Games for now as it is still some time away. We need to focus on what we are doing at the moment, taking it match by match, or we will easily get lost in the competition.”
Wong said he was happy after fighting back to win his first-round singles match against Kim at Victoria Park.
“I could not adjust my pace well in the opening stages of the match, which allowed my opponent to run away with a big lead,” he said.
“But then he made a few mistakes which I capitalised on, and I started to get my touch back, both in returning serve and playing rallies.
“I hope I can continue with this form, especially playing in front of the home crowds at Victoria Park.”
