Hong Kong is a place brimming with talented and intriguing people from all over the world. In our 27 Questions column, we get up close and personal with these notable personalities, learning about their whims and aversions, pivotal life moments, and hopes and dreams — all in roughly the same duration of a casual speed date. Our next segment of 27 Questions brings us to the tennis court where Coleman Wong (黃澤林), the highest-ranked Hong Kong male tennis player in history, joined us right before he set off for the US Open.
As one of the city’s best prospects in the sport of tennis, Wong has set a lot of firsts. He was the first male tennis player from Hong Kong to surpass the Top 300 spot, moving to the first to pass the Top 200 position, and is now the highest-ranked male tennis player in HK history with a career-high of No. 154 on the ATP singles ranking (doubles No. 478).
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While his training camps take place at the Nadal Academy in Majorca, Spain, Wong represents his hometown of Hong Kong whenever he can, and he is currently a student at the University of Hong Kong. If you’ve ever met Wong, you’d gather instantly that he’s an extremely positive individual, spirited, and above all, he lives to play tennis. At just 20 years old, he’s already travelled the world thanks to the sport, and you can tell, that through his experiences and trials, he looks at the world with a mature mindset, yet is not too surfeited with the pressured to a point where he can’t have fun. Even though he recognises it as his career, Wong still reminds himself that at the end of the day, he gets to “play” his favourite sport as a profession.
Wong is the embodiment of the “hard work pays off” expression, as just by his movements, his power, and his finesse on the court, you can tell that he put in some serious hours to make his returns look so easy. He is looking for new milestones this year, and bringing the best in Hong Kong is just the beginning, in fact, he’s already set his sights on another goal, reaching the Top 100 ATP spot while getting to the Next Gen Finals.
Watch Coleman Wong’s 27 Questions with us below, and catch the young athlete at the US Open in New York where he looks to give it his all. Wong’s already played his first match there where he secured his first Grand Slam win against Chile’s Cristian Garín.
Name: Coleman Wong
Age: 20
Neighbourhood: Hong Kong
Occupation: Professional Tennis Player
1. Why do you like tennis?
Tennis has brought me a lot of joy since day one. It is a very intense sport and that’s why I like it.
2. If not tennis, what sport would you be playing?
Probably studying for school.
3. What other sports do you enjoy outside of tennis?
I like sprinting and things associated with track and field.
4. Do you prefer playing on grass, clay, or hard courts?
For sure hard courts. That’s the surface I grew up playing on.
5. What keeps you motivated?
Winning, obviously, but I like that the hard work I put in while practising and training can be applied to the court and seen in matches.
6. Do you believe in hard work or talent?
Both attribute to success but I do think hard work is more important because at the end of the day, you need to hit a lot of balls and that hard work is what makes you feel confident on the court.
7. What is your favourite childhood memory?
When I first picked up the sport of tennis in Victoria Park.
8. Which moment in your life would you most like to relive?
During the pandemic. It was such a tough period but at the same time, I learned and grew so much during that time.
9. Who was your favourite athlete growing up?
Rafael Nadal because he is the definition of hard work and he has inspired me greatly.
10. The song that gets you amped up for competition
Something upbeat but easy like mellow hip-hop. Nothing too hardcore. My go-to right now is Skrillex and Diplo’s “Where Are Ü Now” with Justin Bieber.
11. Who is the best teacher you’ve ever had and what is one important lesson that they taught you?
It would probably have to be my current coach James Allemby and Joan Bosch. They’ve helped me during some tough times, especially when I couldn’t find a solution on my own. They have been able to help me get back on track after a hard loss and train even harder. I consider myself a positive guy but these are able to make me even more positive. Even after losing a four-hour match, they are able to reaffirm to me that I am on the right path.
12. When was the last time you felt starstruck?
Probably when I met, played, and trained with Rafael.
13. How did you meet Rafael Nadal?
It was fate. I’ve tried many academies but this one suits me the best. The academy has helped me grow in the sport and outside of tennis. Majorca is such a beautiful place and I love training there.
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It was at this point that Wong was tired of sitting and wanted to take the interview to the court and show us what he loves doing most — playing tennis.
14. What’s your go-to pre or post-workout snack?
An avocado sandwich.
15. What is your typical Sunday like?
Chill on the beach in Majorca.
16. What was the highlight of playing in the French Open and Wimbledon?
It was my first time, so it meant a lot to me. And a lot of fans were there too!
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17. What is something people don’t know about you?
I like I like listening to music.
18. What is something a non-tennis player would not know about the sport?
It’s very intense. And, it’s all about your mental state, too.
19. What makes a good tennis player?
You have to be hard-working and must enjoy the game.
20. Was there ever some kind of adversity in your career that you thought you would never come back from?
It was when I lost my ranking during COVID. I came back though.
21. What do you miss most about HK when you’re away training or competing?
My family and Hong Kong food.
22. Does carrying the title of the highest-ranked male Hong Kong tennis player stress you out?
Not really, because I’m just enjoying the sport. When I say I enjoy it, I really mean I enjoy it. How can you be stressed being able to have a career something you love this much?
23. What is your guilty pleasure?
Not doing anything. If I don’t have anything planned or urgent matters, I can literally just stay in my place and not do anything.
24. Do you have any secret talents?
I like to play golf. I’m not saying I’m good, but I’m alright.
25. Growing up, how strict were you with your training and diet?
Diet? No way! There’s never a diet because I love to eat. Training, however, I train a lot. I have been training hard since day one.
26. What’s your next goal?
My goal is to be ranked in the Top 100 by the end of this year and get to the Next Gen Finals.
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27. Final message to aspiring tennis players?
You have to enjoy tennis because tennis is not an easy sport. And if you don’t enjoy it, you cannot be good.
Video: Ryan Putranto/Samson Jr C De Guzman
Special Thanks: Peter Cheung
Producer: Ambrose Leung
This story first appeared on Lifestyle Asia Hong Kong
Always on a journey to expand his knowledge, Ambrose is a blend of old-school charm and modern curiosity.
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