HONG KONG, January 2, 2024 (Press Release)
Hong Kong’s rising star Coleman Wong proved he has an extremely bright future in a finely poised encounter with No. 6 seed Lorenzo Musetti in the first round of the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open.
The Italian looked on course for a straight sets victory, but ATP Tour debutant Wong had other ideas, breaking the No.6 seed when serving for the match at 5-4 with some inspired play to get the home crowd roaring. Musetti regrouped and closed out the last two games to move on 6-4, 7-5.
Kicking off 2024 with a win 😎 @Lorenzo1Musetti defeats Coleman Wong 6-4 7-5 @Hkto_mens pic.twitter.com/gsVOU7NJrb
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) January 2, 2024
“It was not easy, first match of the year, especially with a crowd favourite. Coleman played well, putting me in a lot of difficult positions until the end. He has a lot of potential,” claimed Musetti.
Local hero Wong will cherish his memories from an impressive ATP Tour debut.
“I’d give myself a 7 or 8 out of 10. I’m up there with a No.27 in the world. It was a really close match and with the crowd mostly behind me. I made him suffer a little bit,” said the wild card 19-year-old.
“Especially in my hometown, where I started playing tennis, this really means a lot to me. I’ve been coming to train here since I was five, it’s quite emotional.”
Jan-Lennard Struff was voted the ATP Comeback Player of the Year by his peers last season and he proved why with an incredible escape act against 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic.
Struff saved nine match points to beat Cilic, 3-6, 7-6(4), 7-6(7) in a three-hour epic on Tuesday.
Cilic, despite competing for the first time since July due to a knee injury, was in command a set and 5-2 up. However, Struff dug in with some inspired play as the rallies increased in intensity and quality to provide a pulsating conclusion.
“It was such a tough battle. I wasn’t playing my best tennis, but I don’t want to take anything away from Marin, he played a crazy, amazing match,” said World No. 25 Struff.
“I just told myself ‘Let’s go,’ to keep fighting, to never quit. You have to give yourself the chance to fight back, it won’t be given to you and that’s why it’s such a great sport.”
Struff will meet Austrian Sebastian Ofner in the Last 16 following his clinical 6-1, 6-2 triumph over Mackenzie McDonald.
Arthur Fils, the highest-ranked teenager in the world beat Borna Gojo in a 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 battle. Marc-Andrea Huesler awaits the world No.36 in the Last 16 after he beat fellow qualifier Vitaliy Sachko 6-4, 6-4.
Brit Liam Broady is building momentum with a 6-4, 6-0 scoreline over Argentine Pedro Cachin. The qualifier’s reward is now to go toe-to-toe with top seed Andrey Rublev in the second round.
Miomir Kecmanovic defeated Taro Daniel 6-3, 6-2 and the world No. 54 will face No. 3 seed Frances Tiafoe on Centre Court on Wednesday. Roberto Bautista Agut lined up a clash with No. 4 seed Francisco Cerundolo, relinquishing just five games to Fabian Marozsan.
