The energy of a home crowd returned to Victoria Park as the Hong Kong Tennis Open kicked off Sunday with qualifying rounds, featuring a strong field to open the ATP season.
Taking place through January 11, the "M" Mark-approved event showcases talent including local star Coleman Wong Chak-lam, Chinese player Wu Yibing, and world No. 8 Andrey Rublev.
Wong, an athlete on the rise, faces a challenging first-round draw against Argentina's Mariano Navone, ranked 75th in the world.
While aware of the challenge, Wong expressed excitement about competing against a new opponent on home ground.
"I want to cherish every opportunity on this court, this stage, with everyone here," Wong shared, "You never know how many more of these you'll get."
Fresh from off-season training in Spain and Norway and with a new coach on his team, Wong is focusing on sustainable growth rather than rankings alone.
Confident about eventually reaching the world's top 100, he stressed the importance of progressing in the right direction. "Please look forward to my performance this year," he added.
Wong further passionately highlighted the promising young talents emerging from the recent Davis Cup, urging citizens to also give their support to the rising local stars. "A simple encouragement could mean a lot in their growth as I was in their shoes once," Wong said.
While the tournament moves forwards, fans can enjoy free public viewing for its qualifying rounds and matches from Sunday to Monday on Show Courts 1 and 2, as well as a live broadcast on the giant screen in the Tournament Village.
Meanwhile, tickets are available for purchase from HK$270 to HK$1,610.
