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Tom Bell

Hong Kong were beaten by Taiwan in their Davis Cup World Group II tie on Sunday, yet they were left to wonder what might have been after going agonisingly close to winning the doubles match when the contest was on a knife-edge.
Coleman Wong Chak-lam and Kevin Wong Chun-hun three times stood within a point of victory over the much higher-ranked Hsu Yu-Hsiou and Ray Ho in the morning match at Taipei Tennis Centre, but were unable to capitalise, before losing the following tiebreak and with it the match.
It would prove to be a pivotal moment, with Coleman Wong returning to court in the afternoon after just half an hour’s rest to play Wu Tung-lin in the singles.
The 18-year-old was crushed 6-1, 6-2 to give Taiwan an unassailable 3-1 lead. That, though, does not tell the full story of a weekend in which Hong Kong punched well above their weight.




“It was a little disappointing, since we’ve never been so close to Taiwan,” said non-playing team captain Yu Hiu-tung. “However, our squad did what we said before the game, putting pressure on Taiwan and closing the gap.
“On the important points, the Taiwanese duo were better than us, which is why their rankings are considerably higher.”
After causing an upset on Saturday by beating Jason Jung – ranked almost 600 places above him – to give Hong Kong a shock lead in the tie, Coleman Wong had the chance to spring another surprise early on Sunday in tandem with Kevin Wong.
The Hong Kong pair got off to a flying start as they won the first set 6-3. They had break points to go 5-2 up in the second, before being broken back and losing it 7-6 after the tiebreak went Taiwan’s way 7-1.
Undeterred, Wong and Wong roared back in the third set and on three occasions reached match point on the Taiwanese serve at 6-5. They were unable to make them count and were taken to a tiebreak that they lost 7-5.
It was a valiant effort in a match lasting two hours and 34 minutes against Hsu and Ho, who are ranked 158 and 335 in doubles respectively to Coleman Wong’s 976, while Kevin Wong is unranked.
Within minutes, Coleman Wong was preparing for his third match of the tie, against Wu, ranked 847 places higher than him in singles, at No 185. It was too big an ask for the teenager, but he had already become a talismanic figure for his team.
Despite the tie not going the distance – there was no need to play the final singles match between Jung and Jack Wong Hong-kit – Hong Kong had belied their status as clear underdogs.
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They had lost 4-0 to Taiwan the last time the teams met in the competition, in Hong Kong’s Victoria Park in 2019, and won only two of the previous eight meetings with Taiwan, in 1984 and 1990. Taiwan had triumphed in the previous six in a row since 1991.
Referred to in the Davis Cup as Chinese Taipei, the Taiwanese will progress to the Group I play-off, while Hong Kong head for a play-off next year that could relegate them to Group III. Their 27-year wait to return to the elite Group I will go on, but their showing in Taipei offered them hope of consolidation or better.
“Not only Coleman, but all of our team played well in this Davis Cup,” Yu said. “If they keep up this battling attitude, I am confident we can retain our Group II status.”


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Coleman Wong Chak-lam was unable to haul Hong Kong back into the tie against Taiwan. Photo: ArcK Images

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Hong Kong’s Davis Cup squad are in Taipei preparing for this weekend’s tie. Photo: Hong Kong Tennis Association

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Sport

Hong Kong

Tennis

Coleman Wong loses to Wu Tung-lin, ranked 847 places above him, after heroics on day 1 and almost a second victory in doubles with Kevin Wong
Clear underdogs Hong Kong lose the tie 3-1, but punch above their weight


Hong Kong suffer 3-1 defeat after Coleman Wong and Kevin Wong have match points against higher-ranked Hsu Yu-Hsiou and Ray Ho at pivotal moment in the tie.


Davis Cup

Coleman Wong Chak-lam