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Paul McNamara

Mike Chan

Coleman Wong Chak-lam claimed his first ATP Challenger title and was then told to emulate four-time grand slam winner Jannik Sinner by winning this week as well.
The Hong Kong tennis star beat Adam Walton 7-5, 7-6 in the final of the Jiangxi Open on Sunday, and has risen to 110 in the world as a result.
That makes the 21-year-old the highest-ranked player from the city ever, and puts a target on his back heading into the tournament in Wuxi, where he is seeded second and is scheduled to face Japan’s Akira Santillan on Tuesday.
Wong’s coach James Allemby called the short turnaround time before the next match “a great problem to have”, and said his charge should follow the example of Sinner, who won in Indian Wells and Miami in consecutive weeks.
“To have confidence and matches under his belt and to have to manage winning the previous week and starting again from scratch is a great situation to have and experience,” Allemby said. “The big guys manage to do it so often, so that’s what he’ll be thinking of, like [Jannik] Sinner winning the Sunshine Double.
“The ability to reset and stay humble for the next challenges while capitalising on the confidence earned. Not expecting to win, but working for it once again without entitlement.”

From his first Challenger Tour final in Shenzhen in October 2023, it has taken Wong five more final appearances and 31 months to finally have something to put in his trophy cabinet, and Allemby said he was “proud” of his player.
“I told him that he deserved it, that I was proud of him, to enjoy it and to not get too far ahead of himself,” he said. “We have another obstacle and another opportunity to learn from in Wuxi in two days.
“We’ll have a nice dinner tonight but keep it low key, his sights are set on bigger things so we’ll celebrate appropriately.”
In the final, a rematch of the pair’s US Open second-round clash last August, which Wong won in four sets, both players broke each other twice in the opening eight games.
Having managed to hold his serve for the next two games, Wong took a crucial break in the 12th game to seize the lead.
“He dealt with the setbacks in the first [set] very well. He was ready to respond in the best possible way every time and knew that neither the event nor the outcome are within his control, but his response to the event is,” Allemby said.
There was no separating the two rivals in the second set, with both holding serve, but Wong showed why he had reached the final without dropping a set as he fired aces down at Walton.
His seventh and eighth of the match sent the Hongkonger to within a game of his first Challenger title, and although Walton managed to push the set into a tiebreak, there was nothing much the Australian could do when faced with the Hongkonger’s power from the baseline.
Leading 4-3, back-to-back aces from the former junior grand slam doubles champion extended Wong’s lead to three points, before an unforced error from Walton, when he put a return into the net having faulted in his first serve, put an end to the match.
“The key to winning the tie break was to manage his nerves, to keep hitting the ball and accelerating. He knew deep down that if he didn’t he would’ve lost it,” Allemby said.


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ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals)

Hong Kong’s Coleman Wong told to ‘be like Sinner’ in ATP Challenger title quest

Coleman Wong, here in action in the semi-final, won the Jiangxi Open to claim his first Challenger title. Photo: Weibo/ ATP巡回赛

Coleman Wong (right) and his coach James Allemby after the final at the Jiangxi Open. Photo: Handout

Hong Kong’s Coleman Wong holds his nerve and serve to claim first ATP Challenger Tour title

Hong Kong tennis star Coleman Wong celebrates after winning his first ATP Challenger title. Photo: handout

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Sport

Tennis

There is no rest for the 21-year-old after his maiden triumph on Sunday, with the tour staying in mainland China and heading to Wuxi this week


There is no rest for the 21-year-old after his maiden triumph on Sunday, with the tour staying in mainland China and heading to Wuxi this week.


James Allemby

Adam Walton

Jannik Sinner

Hong Kong’s Coleman Wong told to ‘be like Sinner’ in ATP Challenger title quest

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}There is no rest for the 21-year-old after his maiden triumph on Sunday, with the tour staying in mainland China and heading to Wuxi this week

There is no rest for the 21-year-old after his maiden triumph on Sunday, with the tour staying in mainland China and heading to Wuxi this week