Hong Kong youngster Andrew Li eager to test himself in ATP Challenger event
It will be the biggest tennis match of local teenager Andrew Li Hei-yin's career when he walks out on court on Wednesday for the first-round encounter with Japanese second seed Tatsuma Ito in the Hong Kong ATP Challenger.
A good performance will instil in Li the belief he can dabble with a professional career once he finishes his business degree at Georgia Tech in Atlanta.
"This is an opportunity to see where I'm at in terms of professional tennis," said the Hong Kong wild-card entry into the main draw of the 32-strong competition which started at Victoria Park on Tuesday.
It is the biggest match I have played so far and comes at the right time, just before I go to university
"If not for this tournament, I would never have the chance to play in an ATP Challenger event. It is the biggest match I have played so far and comes at the right time, just before I go to university," said Li.
Li, 17, won an ITF Junior event last week in Hong Kong and was allocated the solitary wild card given for a local player as the city celebrates the return of an ATP Challenger event after 15 years.
"I'm very lucky to get this wild card and I'm pretty excited to be playing in the main draw," Li said. "I have no illusions, though. It will be a tough match against a player who is in the world's top 100. I have no ATP ranking.
"But the best thing about this tournament is we get to see some top-level players, many of whom are in the top 200. Playing against them is even better," Li said.