Australian Open: Hong Kong Olympian Siobhan Haughey rallies behind surging tennis star Coleman Wong
- Olympic medallist Siobhan Haughey and high jumping model Cecilia Yeung rally behind Coleman Wong as he continues his success at the Australian Open
- Wong said the support of fellow Hong Kong athletes was a source of inspiration – ‘I really want to do well to make them and Hong Kong proud’
Some of Hong Kong’s most successful athletes have thrown their support behind surging tennis star Coleman Wong, as his Australian Open campaign goes from strength to strength.
Siobhan Haughey, who took silver in the women’s 200m freestyle and women’s 100m freestyle during the Tokyo Olympics, posted a message of support to the 17-year-old Wong, who won both his singles and doubles Australian Open Junior Championships on Tuesday to extend his unbeaten streak at the tournament.
“Killing it at the Australian Open,” Haughey said on Instagram.
Early Tuesday morning Wong cruised past Turkish youngster Togan Tokac 6-2, 6-2 to book his spot in the third round, before securing a place in the junior boys’ double tournament quarter-finals alongside doubles partner Bruno Kazuhara.
The pair took a swift win against Czech Republic rivals Matthew Willian Donald and Jakub Nicod 6-3, 6-4 and now prepare to meet Italian duo Daniele Minighini and Niccolo Ciavarella in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
“I’m feeling very great after the singles and doubles win today,” Wong told the Post. “I saw so many people from Hong Kong and people here supporting me. I saw Siobhán and [high jumper] Cecilia [Yeung] helping me out as well that made me so happy and motivated.
“Siobhán and Cecilia were so nice, they really gave me a lot of motivation and I really want to do well to make them and Hong Kong proud.”
Wong will face his biggest Australian Open test early on Wednesday morning when he faces seventh seed Edas Butvilas in round 3 of the junior boys’ singles tournament. He said despite the hectic schedule, he was ready to return.
“I’m feeling fresh as always because I did many recovery sessions either in an ice bath or stretching,” he said. “I love and enjoy it.”
Last year, Wong made history when he became the first player from Hong Kong to win a boys’ doubles grand slam title at the US Open, alongside playing partner Max Westphal. A five-time ITF junior circuit singles winner, Wong kicked off his 2022 season with a semi-finals finish in the J1 Traralgon 2022 Tennis Tournament.
He has been training at the Rafa Nadal Tennis Academy in Mallorca since November last year, soaking up as much knowledge as he could. Wong said the pair had met this week and had a moment to speak.
“We spoke for a bit and he asked me how I did,” he said. “I will definitely watch him next round or anytime he plays.”
