Coleman Wong’s grand slam triumph a ‘shot in the arm’ for Hong Kong’s plans to bring back WTA and ATP events
- The 17-year-old eyes more tennis recognition for Hong Kong and spots in September’s Hangzhou Asian Games and 2024 Paris Olympics
- Association president Philip Mok ‘confident’ in Hong Kong Open return in October, and men’s ATP event ‘maybe in a year or two’
Coleman Wong Chak-lam’s Australian Open win has given the promising teenager and the Hong Kong Tennis Association a “shot in the arm” after a stop-start Covid-19-affected two years.
“I never thought it would, but winning these two grand slams is a huge confidence booster,” Wong told local media after his prize presentation in Melbourne.
“Players know that if you’re in the top 10-ranked juniors, you’re probably getting into the senior top 300 or 400. These two [performances] prove that I deserve to be in contention, and I hope to play more to give Hong Kong more recognition in tennis,” Wong said.
“Since I was young, I’ve not seen a Hong Kong or Cantonese-speaking person winning a grand slam, even in the juniors, so I’m honoured to have done it. I love tennis so much, and I want other Hong Kong people to understand what the sport is about.
“I also want more Hong Kong players to be able to travel to different places and compete in competitions.”
Hong Kong Tennis Association president Philip Mok Kwan-yat was delighted that Wong – a product of the local tennis grass roots programme – was making waves internationally.
“What Coleman did has never been done before, so I think it will have a big impact on Hong Kong’s young athletes as they haven’t seen many do it on the international stage, and help motivate them to do the same in future,” Mok said.
“Coleman injects a boost of confidence and we will continue to provide opportunities for Hong Kong’s tennis players to likewise go up a level. As for overseas, we are happy to help our most committed athletes compete and train, like how Coleman is learning from the best in the world in Spain to get to where he wants to be in his career.
“We’re really thankful for the government’s support across the juniors and seniors and when organising WTA events in the last few years. We had some of the most exciting players in 2018, and a lot of people were asking if we could do a men’s competition.
“We are working with the ATP to have men’s events in Hong Kong, but the pandemic has disappointingly put up some hurdles. I don’t think it will be too long, though, we will be able to do in maybe a year or two.
“We of course hope this year we can do [the Hong Kong Open] in October as usual, pandemic willing. There is still nine months, so we are confident.”
“The Asian Games is really big for the HKTA, and it’s in Hangzhou so we will need to prepare for that,” he said.
Wong, who juggles between Academy training, international competitions and remote Diocesan Boys School homework, is also on board for Hangzhou.
“When is it again? Sorry,” he said, laughing, before being reminded. “Probably, yes. Representing Hong Kong is something I always want to do. My short-term objective is to do well at the Asian Games, and I also want to reach the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.”
