US Open winner Coleman Wong says he wasn’t sure he could even make it through qualifying before sealing grand slam title
- The 17-year-old is delighted more Hong Kong people know about him and his sport after grand slam triumph
- Wong to local athletes: ‘Everyone has thought of giving up but you need to believe, like I do. You will get your chance’
Hong Kong tennis star Coleman Wong Chak-lam made history by becoming the first player from the city to win a boys’ doubles grand slam at the US Open, but he was not even sure he was going to make it through qualifying.
The 17-year-old and doubles partner Max Westphal forced their way into the final having played deciders in almost every preceding match.
“It really wasn’t easy. We didn’t even know if we could get into the draw at first because I lost in the singles qualifying through a super tiebreak. We got into the draw and already our first match went to a super tiebreak. But we kept going, kept motivating each other – ‘just one point, just focus for 10 minutes, we can do it’, he told the Post ahead of training with the Hong Kong representative team at the Davis Cup in Jordan.
Then followed the waves of support for five-time ITF junior circuit singles winner Wong, who now boasts career high ATP singles and doubles rankings, reasserting his status as the city’s most promising young tennis player.
Wong was cheered on by his family back home, which he said was emotional for all parties.
“My family is very happy and touched – they almost cried. My whole family watched me play at midnight and 3 or 4am in my home. I was so happy I also almost cried, too,” he said.
“I really need to thank the Hong Kong fans for their congratulations. I’m very happy that more and more people know me, Coleman Wong, and know that tennis is a big thing in Hong Kong. I’m so happy they support me and like me.”
Wong hopes the US Open win is just the start of his journey after enduring more than a year without international competition. He spent much of last year in the gym to compensate for the lack of on-court action, and discovered a new role model in Canadian phenomenon Felix Auger Aliassime.
“You have no idea. I prayed every day so that I could play last year,” he said. “It was a very tough year for me. I just kept practising and went to the gym every day to improve my fitness. I just kept believing in myself – ‘I can do it, I can do it’ – and knew my chance would come one day. I’m really happy that it did.”
Having revitalised interest in the local tennis scene, Wong vowed that this is only the beginning. Tasting silverware just months into his first junior grand slam campaign is an achievement that he and his teammates would only fantasize about in the past.
“It’s kind of a dream for Hong Kong players to win a grand slam around the world. I’m really happy to be the first [male] from Hong Kong, and hopefully Hong Kong tennis players can get another in the future,” he said.
“I believe [there’s a lot more tennis and trophies in me],” Wong added. “I really trust my skills now and I finally have the confidence. I think I’m getting better, and being fuelled by the support from Hong Kong fans.
“I want to give [Hong Kong athletes] a message: I know it was a very tough year for everyone. It’s definitely not been easy. Everyone has probably thought of giving up and stuff but you just need to believe, like I do. You will get your chance. You just need to believe in you.”
Hong Kong Tennis Association president Philip Mok added his own congratulations.
“Since his early years, he has always received the full support of his parents, and along the way with the guidance of the coaches, he has worked extremely hard competing in tournaments and representing the Hong Kong team.
“All these things together have helped him to develop as a player that we see on the podium today. We are proud of him and Hong Kong tennis is proud of him. It is evident that Hong Kong tennis players are absolutely capable of performing on the world stage. We will continue to support players with potential in striving to further the development of tennis in Hong Kong in the future.”
