The dream has come true for budding tennis star Lawrence Lo Lok-pui, 12. He will join Spain's Rafael Nadal at the year's most prestigious clay-court tournament, the French Open at Roland Garros, in Paris.
While Nadal and Italy's Francesca Schiavone will be looking to successfully defend their men's and women's singles titles, respectively, Lawrence will be going for glory next month in the Longines Future Tennis Aces competition.
Lawrence said: 'I trained hard for the selection tournament. Beforehand, it was only a dream of mine that I would actually get to play at Roland Garros. I really didn't think I would be successful in Hong Kong and win selection.'
Lawrence's elegant and relaxed playing style and his use of the single-handed backhand shot and slice during matches - trademark shots of Swiss star Roger Federer - has led him to be dubbed 'Hong Kong's Junior Roger Federer'.
The Year Eight Renaissance College student, ranked fourth in Hong Kong's under-14 boys' singles, won his trip to Roland Garros in a tough selection contest held at Hong Kong Country Club, Aberdeen, on April 15.
Among the opponents Lawrence had to beat was his regular doubles partner Jack Wong Hong-kit. Lawrence won 2-6, 6-4, 11-9 after a tense third-set tiebreak.
In the final, Lawrence beat Hong Kong's top seed and favourite for the competition, Jackie Tang, 4-6, 6-2, 10-8. Lawrence had fought back after losing the first set to secure victory in the final-set tiebreak after Jackie raced to a 5-1 lead.
