US Open: Hong Kong’s Wong rewrites history books with first-round win over Kovacevic
Hongkonger downs player ranked more than 100 places above him, becomes first from city to win singles match at grand slam in Open Era
Coleman Wong Chak-lam extended his dream run at the US Open, stunning American Aleksandar Kovacevic in straight sets in New York on Monday, and rewrote the history books in the process.
Ranked 173rd in the world, Wong downed a player listed more than 100 places above him, winning 6-4, 7-5, 7-6 in a thrilling first-round encounter that lasted two hours and 26 minutes.
The Hongkonger sent down 38 winners, served 22 aces, and committed just 31 unforced errors to his opponent’s 47 in the clash on Court 13 at Flushing Meadows.
“It means a lot to me, and also for my family and people from Hong Kong,” Wong said. “It’s a tough one, Kova [Kovacevic] is a great player, and I played really well today.”
In coming through his fourth match of the tournament, Wong, who had to overcome three rounds of qualifying, became the first player from the city to win a singles main draw match at a grand slam, since the Open era began in 1968.
A text message from Spanish legend Rafael Nadal came soon after the win, although Wong did not see it right away as he was “still soaking it in”.