Hong Kong star Coleman Wong tipped for world top 50 ahead of crunch Flavio Cobolli clash
The 21-year-old is targeting his first ATP 250 semi-final at Delray Beach Open, but first needs to get past Italian world No 20
A “relentless ability to learn” could propel Coleman Wong Chak-lam into the world’s top 50 and beyond, according to the Hongkonger’s coach, James Allemby.
Wong will attempt to reach his first ATP 250 semi-final when he meets “very streaky” world No 20 Flavio Cobolli in the last eight of the Delray Beach Open on Friday in Florida.
The 21-year-old, who is ranked 137th, has already got the better of world No 29 Brandon Nakashima and world No 45 Nuno Borges.
Having not reached an ATP 250 quarter-final before this year, Wong has now made it to two in a row following his last-eight run in the Bank of China Hong Kong Open.
Allemby said his charge’s new-found consistency was underpinned by an “understanding that he doesn’t have to play phenomenally to beat guys inside the top 50”.
“The Hong Kong Open was a great boost for him in terms of gaining belief in his low level on his less than good days,” said Allemby, citing how Wong overcame 74th-ranked Mariano Navone “without playing that well”, and only started hitting his straps in the deciding set of a victory over world No 39 Gabriel Diallo.
