Hong Kong’s Coleman Wong one step away from history at US Open
Victory in second qualifier against Italian Matteo Gigante means he is one win away from becoming city’s first grand slam participant
Coleman Wong Chak-lam’s 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 win over Italy’s Matteo Gigante on Thursday has put him one step away from history.
Should the 21-year-old overcome Britain’s Billy Harris in the third round of qualifying, Wong will make the US Open proper and become the first Hongkonger to reach that grand slam.
The win over Gigante was particularly impressive given the Italian’s ranking of 16 among qualifiers. Both Wong and coming opponent Harris are unseeded.
Only two men representing the city have ever reached a tennis major – with the most recent in 1954.
Ip Koon-hung was the first when he played at Wimbledon in 1951 and matched that feat 12 months later.
Edward Tsai went one better when he reached the second round in 1953 and 1954, but that was the last appearance at a slam from a Hongkonger.