Hong Kong’s Coleman Wong proud of fighting spirit, winning bronze ‘milestone achievement’
National Games medal a first for city’s tennis players, and Wong plans to use march to semi-finals as fuel for 2026 season
Coleman Wong Chak-lam said he was proud of his never-say-die spirit despite surrendering a one-set lead to lose his National Games semi-final against Wu Yibing on Wednesday.
Wu won 6-7, 7-6, 6-4 following a tussle that lasted nearly three hours. He will meet Jerry Shang Juncheng in Thursday’s final at the Hengqin International Tennis Centre in Zhuhai.
Wong, who called his bronze medal a “milestone achievement”, saved a set-point in the tiebreak in the opening set before eventually winning 8-6.
In the second tiebreak, he staved off five set points, including a run of four in a row, before Wu finally found a way through to win 9-7. The relief was clear to see for the world No 181, who sank to his haunches and covered his face.
The 26-year-old carried that momentum into the deciding set and did not look back once he broke Wong in the opening game.
“I am quite proud of myself because I never gave up even when I was playing the last point, and that is the most important thing,” Wong said.