Miami Open: Hong Kong’s Wong ‘hungry for more’ after Djere ends his ATP adventure in first round
- Laslo Djere’s greater experience tells in 7-5, 7-6 win at Hard Rock Stadium on Friday
- But Serbian world No 35 full of praise for Hong Kong opponent who he says ‘will do really good’
Coleman Wong Chak-lam’s Miami Open came to a spirited but abrupt end at the Hard Rock Stadium on Friday, and the Hongkonger said the experience had only made him “hungry for a lot more”.
Wong slipped to a straight sets defeat to Laslo Djere, but broke the world No 35 several times over the course of the match, and at 5-3 up in the second set should probably have taken the game to a decider.
But the Serbian’s greater experience ultimately told in his 7-5, 7-6 win, while Wong’s greater number of unforced errors in his first appearance in the main draw of an ATP Masters 1000 tournament didn’t help matters.
“It’s obviously not easy to lose such a close match, but I tried my best,” the 19-year-old said. “It’s just a few points here and there in the tight moments I feel great and confidence [is high] because I’m close with these top players.”
Getting through to the first round will lift Wong to 188th in the world when the rankings are updated on Monday, and while he acknowledged that was “a big achievement” he has his sights set on greater things.
“I want to be ending this year top 150 or even top 100,” he said.