Davis Cup: Hong Kong draw level against Latvia as Coleman Wong leads fightback after big rain delay
- Coleman Wong races through to victory against Martins Rocens in Saturday’s second singles match in Victoria Park following three-hour break
- Robert Strombachs earlier battled past Hong Kong No 2 Jack Wong Hong-kit in three sets to give visitors the lead in five-rubber tie
Hong Kong’s Davis Cup tie against Latvia became the latest sporting fixture to fall victim to the city’s record-breaking September rain on Saturday. But Coleman Wong Chak-lam made quick work of his opponent once play resumed at Victoria Park Tennis Stadium to bring his side level at 1-1 going into Sunday’s decisive matches.
Jack Wong Hong-kit had lost to Robert Strombachs in three sets earlier on Saturday, the Latvian No 1 winning 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in two hours and 10 minutes.
Coleman Wong was then leading the city’s fightback in their world group II first-round tie when rain halted play around 3.30pm in Causeway Bay.
The 19-year-old two-time junior doubles grand slam champion was up by a set and a break against Martins Rocens in the second singles rubber when the rain came.
Play resumed at 6.15pm under the floodlights, after ground staff had sufficiently dried the court with a plethora of squeegees, and Hong Kong No 1 Wong raced through to a 6-4, 6-2 victory in just 98 minutes.
“It is never easy to stay focused during a three-hour rain break but I’m happy my team kept me ready and hyped for the match,” Wong said after his win.
