Hong Kong tennis star Coleman Wong looks to 2024 Paris Olympics, as US Open grand slam title and Davis Cup tour await
- Back in Hong Kong after a whirlwind six months, the teen says representing the city at Summer Games would be a ‘lifelong dream’
- Wong heads back to Rafael Nadal Academy in August in preparation for major tournaments in September
Coleman Wong Chak-lam spent the first half of 2022 creating history for tennis in Hong Kong – but he’s only just getting warmed up.
The 18-year-old, who became the first Hong Kong player to appear in the quarter-finals of the boys singles at Wimbledon last month, now has his sights set on a much bigger prize, creating history for the city once again at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
“That is something I have dreamed of since I started playing tennis,” Wong told the Post. “That’s my long-term goal, but by the end of the year I want to be in the top 350 ATP ranking – hopefully I can do it as soon as possible.”
Back in Hong Kong after a whirlwind six month tour, the teenage tennis sensation has racked up a solid following in the city and around the world after his success at Wimbledon and the Australian Open in January, where he claimed a second junior grand slam title.
“He’s a bit of a star right now,” Philip Mok, president of Hong Kong Tennis Association, said. “He works really hard, has a true passion for the game and a lot of support from his family and coaches. We’re very proud of everything that he has done and I think it will help to bring more kids into tennis.
“At Wimbledon I finally realised how many fans he actually has – even in England there was a lot of support. He has quite a following.”
Next month Wong returns to the famed Rafael Nadal Academy in Spain to begin preparations for his US Open junior title defence, in addition to a Davis Cup showdown with Taiwan in September and the M25 Roehampton in England.
It’s a remarkable turn of fortunes for Wong, who in 2021 was unable to travel and compete as Covid-19 restrictions put his ambitious plans on hold. Now, he’s charting a new path forward.
“I’m just going to keep playing bigger tournaments, professional tournaments and tougher opponents against adults because it’s a totally different experience,” Wong said.
“I’m pretty satisfied with my result. I didn’t play tennis for more than a year then came right back to win two grand slams in one year. I feel like I have another chance at the US Open, so hopefully I can do well there and get a trophy.”
Wong said the support from Hong Kong and his family has been invaluable.
“My mum cried when I came back, actually I did as well,” he said. “This was my first time leaving Hong Kong for so long. We tried to call each other every day, but it wasn’t easy being so far away and in different time zones. I really feel like they love me and really support me as a tennis player, and allow me to do what I love most.”
Beyond his own ambitions, Wong wants to see tennis in Hong Kong grow to new heights and feels a run at the Olympics would go a long way in achieving that goal.
“I feel like there’s not a lot of people playing tennis in Hong Kong and I want to make tennis more popular in Hong Kong.”
For their part, the Hong Kong Tennis Association says they are committed to throwing resources into young talent.
“Coleman’s success has shown that even in an ultra competitive global sport like tennis, Hong Kong players can succeed at the highest levels,” Mok said. “There’s no reason why Hong Kong athletes cannot do it.
“We are not shy in putting resources into athletes that we think have the potential. We want to get that message out and get more people into tennis.”
