Teenager Wayne Wong Wing-luen was beaten by Ben Ellwood of Australia 6-1, 6-2 in the first round of the Salem Open at Victoria Park.
Wayne was playing in his first major tournament, but the 17-year-old failed to get his game going as his Australian opponent, who came through the main draw from the qualifying competition, displayed the gulf between the two players.
'I was nervous. I had never played in an ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) tournament before. It was a big occasion for me,' said Wayne, who was in the middle of his fifth-form exams.
'It was a new experience,' he said.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong Davis Cup players will live to fight another day after they lost to Taiwan 3-2 in their Asia-Oceania zone Group II Davis Cup encounter in Taipei. Taiwan were ahead 2-1 after the first two days of play, winning the doubles and one of two singles matches.
The hosts then won the two reserve singles to wrap up the tie.
