Tennis history for Hong Kong as Wong reaches U.S. Open 2nd round

Coleman Wong claimed a slice of historical past on the U.S. Open on Monday (August 25, 2025), changing into the primary man from Hong Kong to win a Grand Slam singles match within the Open period with a straight units win over Aleksandar Kovacevic.

Wong, 21, who had already scored a notable first by battling by qualifiers to succeed in the primary draw, prolonged his New York fairytale with a 6-5, 7-5, 7-6 (7/4) win at Flushing Meadows.

The win was one other triumph for tennis gamers who prepare at Rafael Nadal’s academy in Mallorca: Wong’s shut good friend Alexandra Eala had grow to be the primary Filipino to win a Grand Slam singles match in her opening spherical on Sunday.

“I’m nonetheless soaking it in, as a result of it’s an enormous second for me and in addition my household, and Hong Kong individuals again house. It means rather a lot,” Wong stated, shortly after his win, revealing that he had already acquired a congratulatory textual content message from Spanish legend Nadal.

Wong took up tennis on the age of 5, first choosing up a racket at Hong Kong’s Victoria Park tennis courts when his elder sister fell unwell and was unable to attend a lesson. Wong took her place and the remaining is historical past.

He later skilled on the Hong Kong Sports activities Institute at Sha Tin, earlier than transferring to Nadal’s academy on the age of 17.

His transition from Asia to Europe was aided by fellow Nadal scholar Eala, who was at courtside on Monday to observe Wong’s victory.

“At first, it was robust as a result of it was Covid occasions once I moved over there,” Wong stated of his transfer to Spain.

“Alex helped me rather a lot to get used to the surroundings as a result of she was there for a very long time. It took me, I feel, a 12 months to to regulate. I’d by no means been to Spain earlier than, and I barely go to Europe earlier than. So from being slightly child from Hong Kong all the best way to Spain, it’s robust.”

Wong first served discover of his expertise earlier this 12 months, defeating Ben Shelton — seeded six in New York — within the second spherical of the Miami Open Masters occasion.

Since then, Wong has struggled to make a lot impression at ATP degree, largely exiting in qualifying rounds at occasions, together with the French Open and Wimbledon.

“To be sincere, it’s not simple. I imply, everybody have their ups and downs, particularly tennis gamers,” Wong stated. “Tennis is without doubt one of the hardest sports activities. I feel I don’t know once I’m going to interrupt by. I simply have to maintain believing.”

Wong will take the mindset into the later rounds in New York.

“I have to maintain believing, and I do know I can do it,” he stated. “I simply need to maintain going, and let’s see how deep I can go.”