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Paul McNamara

Coleman Wong Chak-lam’s seesaw week in the Dominican Republic has come to an end after he lost his Copa Cap Cana quarter-final against Alexander Blockx in stifling temperatures on Saturday.
The Hongkonger had recovered from one set down to win his first and second-round matches, but he had the tables turned on him by Belgian Blockx, who hit back after dropping the opener to win 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 and book a semi-final clash with Mariano Navone.
Wong, 21, also lost from one set up in his second qualifying round meeting with Martin Landaluce, before exploiting his lucky loser spot with comeback victories over world top-100 pair Roman Andres Burruchaga and Damir Dzumhur.
The winner in his only previous meeting with Blockx back in 2024, Wong broke in the third game, then staved off two break points in the eighth and again in the 10th before capitalising on his first set point.
Serving in an incredible fourth game of set two that featured 10 deuces, Wong saved another six break points. At 2-2 he had 40-0 on Blockx’s serve, only for the Belgian to dig himself out of his hole, then eventually break decisively in game 12.
Playing his fifth three-set match in five days, Wong was broken in the sixth game of the decider. He created another three break points as the 20-year-old Blockx served for the match, but lightning struck twice; the world No 97 winning five straight points to finally extinguish Wong’s challenge after 2½ hours.

Blockx, who had taken more than three hours to beat Dalibor Svrcina on Friday, said: “This morning when I woke up I was like, ‘It cannot possibly be any more difficult than yesterday’, but I think this was one of the toughest matches I’ve ever played physically.
“The first set I wasn’t feeling well ... the second set was so long, every point was so long. I just kept fighting.”
Currently at a career-high world No 123, Wong, who spent 11 hours and 48 minutes on court in Punta Cana, stayed at No 119 in the live rankings ahead of Monday’s official update.
He will be defending points in next week’s Miami Open, where he reached the third round last year after claiming the scalp of current world No 8 Ben Shelton in round two.
Blockx, the runner-up in last year’s Next Gen ATP Finals for the world’s highest-ranked players aged 20 and under, will target a seventh Challenger Tour final when he meets Argentine Navone, who ousted No 2 seed Valentine Royer in straight sets.
Australian Adam Walton’s prize for eliminating No 1 seed Miomir Kecmanovic is a last-four tie with world No 94 Mattia Bellucci of Italy.


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Coleman Wong’s epic week ended by Belgian after another titanic three-set battle

Coleman Wong, here in action during a Davis Cup tie last month, is moving on to Miami after being eliminated from the Copa Cap Cana tournament in the Dominican Republic. Photo: Eugene Lee

Coleman Wong in action during his second-round win against Damir Dzumhur. Photo: EPA

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Cade Wright tries to make up ground on the closing run before coming home fifth. Photo: Elson Li

Hong Kong’s Nick Yip emerging from the water among the leading group. Photo: Elson Li

Tallulah Wright takes on water during a tough closing 5km run. Photo: Elson Li

Coleman Wong stays cool in face of opponent’s outburst to reach last 8 of Challenger event

Coleman Wong’s win over world No 64 Dzumhur was his  second from one set down in two days after he beat Argentine Roman Andres Burruchaga, the world No 98, on Monday. Photo: Eugene Lee

Ex-world No 23 Damir Dzumhur refused to shake Coleman Wong’s hand after their match. Photo: AFP

Sport

Tennis

Hongkonger loses Copa Cap Cana quarter-final, competed for 11 hours and 48 minutes on court over five days in the Dominican Republic


Hongkonger loses Copa Cap Cana quarter-final, competed for 11 hours and 48 minutes on court over five days in the Dominican Republic.


Coleman Wong Chak-lam

Adam Walton

Coleman Wong’s epic week ended by Belgian after another titanic three-set battle

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Hongkonger loses Copa Cap Cana quarter-final, competed for 11 hours and 48 minutes on court over five days in the Dominican Republic

Hongkonger loses Copa Cap Cana quarter-final, competed for 11 hours and 48 minutes on court over five days in the Dominican Republic