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Mike Chan

A jubilant Coleman Wong Chak-lam finally got the monkey off his back on Sunday, winning his first ATP Challenger Tour title at the sixth time of asking.
The Hong Kong tennis star had reached his final against Australia’s Adam Walton without dropping a set, and needed all his first-serve skill to keep that record intact in a 7-5, 7-6 victory in the Jiangxi Open.
In a back-and-forth tussle featuring numerous breaks points and lasting one hour and 51 minutes, it was ultimately a Walton error that decided things in a nervy tiebreak that could have gone either way.
Wong is now predicted to rise to 108th in the world on the back of his triumph, making him the highest ranked player ever from Hong Kong. He will get a chance to reinforce his position during this week’s tournament, which is also in mainland China, in Wuxi.

The moment it all sank in ☺️#ATPChallenger | 📍Jiujiang pic.twitter.com/3NLBaRp2VF
— ATP Challenger (@ATPChallenger) May 3, 2026

The final was a rematch of the pair’s US Open second-round clash last August, which Wong won in four sets, and both players broke each other twice in the opening eight games.
Having managed to hold his serve for the next two, Wong took a crucial break in the 12th game to seize the lead.
His coach, James Allemby, said his charge had responded to the early setbacks “very well”, and reacted “in the best possible way” every time.
“He was prepared to face adverse situations and handle favourable ones, even if that meant going down a set, or having to play a third set, or fight back from however many breaks necessary,” Allemby said.
“That’s the definition of competing well, giving yourself opportunities, and creating your own luck.”
There was little to separate the two rivals in the second set, with both holding their respective service games throughout, although Wong showed a glimpse of his form as he fired down a succession of aces at the Australian.
His seventh and eighth of the match sent Wong to within one game of his first Challenger title, and although Walton managed to push the set into tiebreak, there was nothing much the Australian could do facing the Hongkonger’s power from the baseline.
Leading 4-3 in the tiebreak, back-to-back aces from the former junior grand slam boys doubles champion extended Wong’s lead to three points, before an unforced error from Walton on his second serve put an end to the match.
Allemby said the key to the 21-year-old Wong’s victory had been in “managing his nerves”.
“He knew deep down that if he didn’t he would’ve lost it,” the Englishman addded.
“He managed to keep his standards relatively high given the nerves he was feeling in the moment, and was able to shake off a couple of rougher points and get back to what he had to do, and what he had to commit to.”
From his first Challenger Tour final in Shenzhen in October 2023, it took Wong five more final appearances and 31 months to finally have something to put in his trophy cabinet.
The triumph brought a raft of congratulations from across Hong Kong, with the city’s Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui adding her own comments underneath a photograph on the Hong Kong China Tennis Association’s Facebook page of Wong collapsed on the court in celebration.
“Well done, Coleman,” Law wrote in a post that was also accompanied by two party popper and two flexed biceps emojis.


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ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals)

Hong Kong tennis star Coleman Wong celebrates after winning his first ATP Challenger title. Photo: handout

Coleman Wong watches the ball fly off his backhand in the Hongkonger’s semi-final victory over Sun Fajing in Jiujiang. Photo: Weibo

Coleman Wong, here in action against Bu Yunchaokete, is into the Jiujiang final without dropping a set. Photo: Weibo

Sun Fajing strikes a forehand during his straight sets defeat by Coleman Wong in Jiujiang. Photo: Weibo

Hong Kong’s Coleman Wong set to ‘sweat blood’ in bid to reach mainland China final

Coleman Wong on his way to victory over Bu Yunchaokete in Jiujiang. Photo: Handout

Coleman Wong was on court for two hours and seven minutes to beat Bu Yunchaokete. Photo: Handout

Sport

Hong Kong

Tennis

Wong claims Jiangxi Open crown after a nearly two-hour tussle with Adam Walton, ends week having not dropped a set


Wong claims Jiangxi Open crown after a nearly two-hour tussle with Adam Walton, ends week having not dropped a set.


Hong Kong Tennis Association (HKTA)

Adam Walton

Hong Kong’s Coleman Wong holds his nerve and serve to claim first ATP Challenger Tour title

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Wong claims Jiangxi Open crown after a nearly two-hour tussle with Adam Walton, ends week having not dropped a set

Wong claims Jiangxi Open crown after a nearly two-hour tussle with Adam Walton, ends week having not dropped a set