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Ada Li

Hong Kong’s Davis Cup team will host Finland this weekend in a play‑off tie that could see the city return to the World Group I level for the first time in more than 30 years.
The play-off, which will be played at Victoria Park Tennis Stadium, was made possible after Hong Kong’s 3–1 victory over Uzbekistan in September.
Led by the city’s best-ever tennis player, Coleman Wong Chak‑lam, the squad is unusually young, with four teenagers in the ranks.
Team captain Yu Hiu‑tung said the squad – which also comprises Kai Thompson, Jack Cheng, Nicholas Cheng Siu‑chi, James Wong Tsz‑fu and Walter Tam Sin‑hang – was the youngest he had ever led, but was one that had “full preparation”.
“This is the youngest team I have ever led and everyone’s preparation for this tie has been very thorough,” Yu said. “Players like Kai have been performing well consistently, so I just hope everyone gives their best.”

Though they are facing the top‑seeded Finland, Coleman Wong did not see Hong Kong as the underdogs.
“We are not at a huge disadvantage against the No 1 seed,” he said. “We have home‑court advantage and I never feel we are worse than them.”
Wong singled out Finland’s top singles player, Otto Virtanen, against whom he lost 6–2, 7–5 at the Birmingham Challenger last June.
“Our rankings and strength are quite close; it will come down to who performs better on the day,” said Wong, the first Hong Kong player in history to reach the third round of the US Open. “Last year on grass he had an edge, but on the hard court I hope for a different outcome.”
Since first representing the city as the youngest-ever Hong Kong player at the Davis Cup at 15 in 2019, Wong had now become the elder statesman of the team. He said the younger generation brought their own strengths and his priority was to help them enjoy the experience.
“This tournament is quite different from the matches we play throughout the year,” Wong said. “It is not like going out to play on your own; everyone is aiming at the same goal. I hope everyone can cherish and enjoy the chance to fight side by side.”
Wong stressed the importance of communication and said he would do his best to support his teammates on and off the court.

Hong Kong’s best Davis Cup performance came in the late 1980s and mid‑1990s, when the team competed in the Asia/Oceania Zone Group I in 1989.
After more than three decades away from that level, Wong was asked whether he saw chasing a return to Group I as motivation or a source of pressure.
“I don’t think about it too much,” he said. “I just encourage the younger ones to enjoy the race. Our team have a very good chemistry.”
Beyond Wong, the entire Hong Kong squad consisted of the same men’s youth team that won bronze at the National Games. “Everyone has a National Games medal,” Wong joked, noting his own men’s singles medal.
Thompson, who recently reached the quarter‑finals at the Australian Open junior event, said: “The National Games were a very good experience. We got to know each other better through the competition.”
James Wong added: “Those medals have given us confidence going into this tournament.”


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Coleman Wong says he hopes the team “can cherish and enjoy the chance to fight side by side”. Photo: Ada Li

Hong Kong’s Davis Cup team to face Finland (from left): Walter Tam, Jack Cheng, Nicholas Cheng, Coleman Wong, Kai Thompson and James Wong. Photo: Ada Li

Finland’s top singles threat will come from Otto Virtanen. Photo: Reuters

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Sport

Tennis

Hong Kong

City’s best player says playing at home should provide an advantage, team’s National Games bronze-winning experience could prove useful


City’s best player says playing at home should provide an advantage, team’s National Games bronze-winning experience could prove useful.


Coleman Wong Chak-lam

Davis Cup play-off: Hong Kong not underdogs against top seeds Finland, Coleman Wong says

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}City’s best player says playing at home should provide an advantage, team’s National Games bronze-winning experience could prove useful

City’s best player says playing at home should provide an advantage, team’s National Games bronze-winning experience could prove useful