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Paul McNamara

Teenager Kai Thompson said he felt more equipped for Davis Cup and junior grand slam competition after a tough ATP Tour baptism at the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open on Sunday.
The Hongkonger battled gamely on a busy No 1 court at Victoria Park Tennis Centre, saving four match points before going down 6-3, 6-2 to world No 88 Emilio Nava in one hour and two minutes.
The 17-year-old, who will partner Zhou Yi of China in the doubles event, was an unused squad member when Hong Kong shocked Uzbekistan in a Davis Cup tie in September.
With his star on the rise, however, Thompson vowed to continue knuckling down in the hope that he is chosen for February’s home World Group I play-off against Finland.
“Playing in front of this many people for the first time has released a bit of pressure,” Thompson said. “It gets me ready for [Davis Cup], so I will be more prepared and more at ease.
“I have worked hard and will keep doing so, then see if the captain [Yu Hiu-tung] picks me.”

Thompson, who was awarded a wild card for his home tournament, said he was “very nervous” before the ultimately “amazing experience” of tackling American Nava, who will meet Laslo Djere on Monday for a place in the main draw.
“It was really tough, I tried to keep as cool as I could and stay in the moment,” Thompson said. “[Tour players] play much quicker, you have to move a lot more, and fitness is a big part of it. They are tactically more solid than the juniors.”
Thompson, whose mother is from Hong Kong and father is from the Isle of Man, bagged four ITF junior singles titles last year.
His fine 2025, which also featured a youth team bronze from the National Games, earned him a grand slam debut at this month’s junior Australian Open.
“I will see a lot of the top pros and juniors and take a lot from it,” Thompson said. “I made a lot of progress last year … my work has shown in my ranking jumping, which allowed me to play in Australia.
“This experience will help in big tournaments; this year I want to play as many grand slams as possible alongside some professional tournaments.”
On Thompson’s priority list for improvement are his conditioning and decision making, along with “not being overrun by the top players’ ball speed and sticking to my game”.
In August, he will go to the University of Central Florida, whose Knights tennis team compete in the USA’s Big 12 Conference.
“I met the coach [Lloyd Bruce-Burgess] at an ITF Tournament and had a good connection with him,” Thompson said. “I had a good feeling about them and it felt like home.”
Thompson and first-time partner Zhou will meet French pair Theo Arribage and Albano Olivetti in the doubles first round on Monday.
While Thompson acknowledged it was a “last-minute pairing”, Zhou, who shocked Franceso Maestrelli 6-0, 6-3 in his singles qualifier on Sunday, vowed to have fun.
“The off-season was really tough, I worked hard and have been looking forward to this tournament for a long time to get out of training,” the 20-year-old said. “This performance means the work paid off.”
Currently world ranked No 250, 111 places beneath Italian Maestrelli at No 139, Zhou said: “Everybody wants to reach higher places, my goal is to stay competing in ATP tournaments and go to grand slams; I’m working my way up there.”
In Monday’s final qualifying round, Zhou will meet Alejandro Tabilo of Chile, who outlasted France’s Luca Van Assche after a nearly-three-hour, three-set battle.
Another mainlander, Bu Yunchaokete, blew two set points in an opening-set tiebreak before losing 7-6, 6-3 to American Nishesh Basavareddy.
“I was very nervous at the end of the set,” Bu said. “I didn’t take my chance, he got the advantage and I felt more emotion after I lost it.”
The main draw also gets under way on Monday, with Marin Cilic against Adrian Mannarino, and Wu Yibing’s clash with Fabian Marozsan the pick of the first-round matches.


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Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open

Hong Kong teenager eyeing Davis Cup role and grand slam joy after ATP Tour debut

Kai Thompson hits a forehand during his match against Emilio Nava at Victoria Park. Photo: Eugene Lee

China’s Bu Yunchaokete rallies with Nishesh Basavareddy in Causeway Bay. Photo: Eugene Lee

Hong Kong pay penalty, fall flat against Guangdong after rousing second-half recovery

Hong Kong’s Vas Nunez gives Wong Wai a consoling pat on the head after his missed penalty handed Guangdong victory. Photo: HKFA

Sun Ming-him scored his side’s first goal against Guangdong for the second game running. Photo: HKFA

Marin Cilic over injury hell and thoughts of quitting, plotting ‘fantastic’ 2026 campaign

Marin Cilic tells the Post about his successful battle with a knee injury. Photo: Elson Li

Marin Cilic jokes with his young rivals (left-to-right) Wu Yibing, Jerry Shang and Coleman Wong. Photo: Elson Li

The Croat lost in the opening round on his previous visit to Hong Kong in 2024. Photo: Elson Li

Sport

Tennis

Kai Thompson overcomes nerves to deliver encouraging performance against world No 88 Emilio Nava at Victoria Park Tennis Centre


Kai Thompson overcomes nerves to deliver encouraging performance against world No 88 Emilio Nava at Victoria Park Tennis Centre.


Davis Cup

Hong Kong teenager eyeing Davis Cup role and grand slam joy after ATP Tour debut

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Kai Thompson overcomes nerves to deliver encouraging performance against world No 88 Emilio Nava at Victoria Park Tennis Centre

Kai Thompson overcomes nerves to deliver encouraging performance against world No 88 Emilio Nava at Victoria Park Tennis Centre