Hong Kong Davis Cup team targets World Group I return against Finland this weekend

Led by young star Coleman Wong, Hong Kong’s Davis Cup squad faces Finland in a World Group I play-off at Victoria Park on Saturday, with over 70 percent of tickets already sold and captain Yu Hiu-tung hoping home support helps the team achieve promotion for the first time in 33 years.

The Hong Kong captain confirmed the youngest player, Walter Tam, will sit out, leaving Coleman Wong, Kai Thompson, Wong Tsz-fu, Nicholas Cheng and Jack Cheng to carry the team. The five players average 18 years old.

Yu said the squad remains relaxed and excited rather than nervous ahead of the crucial tie. He hopes to witness Hong Kong reach World Group I, a level he never experienced as a player.

Both captains kept line-ups secret until Friday’s draw. Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen arrived early last Saturday to adjust to Hong Kong’s warmer weather, describing Victoria Park as well-regarded and expecting a large crowd. Despite being top seeds, he said his team would approach the match humbly.

Finland lost 0-4 to Austria last year and dropped to this playoff.

Their top player is 24-year-old Otto Virtanen (world No. 116), supported by Eero Vasa, Patrik Niklas-Salminen, 18-year-old Linus Lagerbohm and Patrick Kaukovalta. Key player Emil Ruusuvuori is sidelined by injury.

Nieminen noted Virtanen beat Wong in a grass-court Birmingham Challenger quarterfinal last June but stressed past results mean little in Davis Cup.

He praised Wong as a strong player and said his team studied Thompson’s recent Australian Open juniors performance, expecting a tough contest.

Yu called on fans to create a passionate atmosphere like last September’s 3-1 win over Uzbekistan. He acknowledged Finland’s absences slightly improve Hong Kong’s chances but highlighted his team’s youth and inexperience at the senior level, saying loud support could make a big difference.