21 year-old Coleman Wong Chak-lam has become Hong Kong’s first tennis player to qualify for the main draw of the US Open in New York on Friday.
On the following Monday, he set further historical milestones while claiming first-round victory against American player Aleksander Kovacevic in straight sets 6-4, 7-5, 7-6. Wong defeated a player ranked more than 100 places above him and became the first man from the city to win an Open Era Grand Slam since it began in 1968.
“It’s a big moment for me and also my family, Hong Kong people here and also back home,” Wong stated. “It means a lot.”
Busy soaking in the moment, he has yet to respond to a congratulatory message sent from his idol, the King of Clay and 22 time Grand Slam title holder, Rafael Nadal. Nadal has played an important role in Wong’s career, as their family moved to Spain so he could have the opportunity to train at the Rafael Nadal Academy at 17.
This also led to friendships along the way, one of them being with Alexandra Eala, who also left a historical mark at the Sunday US Open by being the first Filipino woman to win a Grand Slam match. Wong and Eala were able to witness one another’s triumphs from courtside.
Jiā yóu, Coleman! (“Let’s go, Coleman!”)
Where to watch:
(HK) NowTV Channel 630
(Mainland China) Migu TV
(Macau) CCTV
(Singapore) SPOTV
(Malaysia) SPOTV NOW
(USA) ABC, ESPN
(UK) Sky Sports
