Hong Kong Open: Eudice Chong upsets Suzan Lamens for first main-draw win of her career
Hongkonger ranked No 632 had won only one qualifying match in her five previous outings at the tournament
Hundreds of fans in the stands erupted into cheers as Hong Kong tennis player Eudice Chong beat Suzan Lamens of the Netherlands in straight sets to notch up the first main-draw win of her career at the Prudential Hong Kong Open on Tuesday.
The 6-3, 6-4 win at the Victoria Park Tennis Court was a memorable one for Chong after losing three straight first-round matches at Causeway Bay between 2018 and 2024. Hongkonger Chong had recorded only one qualifying win in the city in her five outings since 2016.
“The win was definitely down to the overwhelming support I enjoyed from the home fans, with a lot of my family and friends here to support me,” said Chong, who is ranked No 632 in the world. “I didn’t give myself too much pressure before the match so maybe that’s why I was able to play well.
“Perhaps Lamens [world No 85] felt the pressure too because she ranks higher than me. It’s my career-first win against a player inside the top 100, so there are quite a few firsts for me.”
Chong’s historic win on home soil came on the back of her recent run to the women’s doubles final at the Guangzhou Open and she hoped it would benefit her seedings for the coming National Games.
Partnering Taiwanese Liang En-Shuo, Chong was denied by Polish-Indonesian pair Katarzyna Piter and Janice Tjen at the Nansha International Tennis Centre on Sunday. Despite the loss, Chong saw her doubles rankings shoot to No 94 in the world, moving her closer to her dream of playing in the grand slams next year.