In-form Hui keeps HK's flag flying

JOHN Hui kept Hong Kong's presence alive at the US Open when, together with Japan's Yaoki Ishi, he entered the quarter-finals of the boy's under-18 doubles tournament yesterday.

Hui and Ishi defeated the number one seeds in the boy's juniors, Venezuelans Kepler Orellana and Yohny Ronero, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

They will now meet Jeff Coetzee of South Africa and Hashim Hameeda of Egypt in the quarter-finals.

It is the first time that a Hong Kong player has entered the quarter-finals of any event at the US Open. Hui's performance is also timely as far as the territory's Davis Cup ambitions are concerned.

'He is hitting form at the right time. I hope he can just carry it on to the Davis Cup tie against Taiwan later this month,' said Hong Kong coach Mark Bailey. The territory will meet Taiwan in an Asia/Oceania Zone relegation tie at Victoria Park from September 22-24.