Coleman Wong's run at the Ultimate Tennis Showdown (UTS) Hong Kong came to an end on Tuesday with a 3-1 defeat to world No. 15 Andrey Rublev. Despite the loss, Wong, nicknamed "The Chosen Wong" for the event, expressed his enjoyment of the experience in front of his home crowd at the Kai Tak Arena.
The match was a rematch of their US Open encounter, where Rublev also prevailed in a tightly contested five-set battle. This time, in the fast-paced UTS format, Rublev secured the win with scores of 13-12, 11-13, 15-11, 17-11.
UTS features a unique format with interactive elements and informal nicknames for players. Matches are divided into four eight-minute quarters, with a three-minute break between each quarter. The goal is to win three quarters, and if the score is tied, a "sudden death" fifth quarter decides the match. Key differences from traditional tennis include a 15-second shot clock, no second serves, and the ability for coaches to provide guidance from the bench at all times. Fans are also encouraged to be loud and passionate throughout the match.
Wong, who received a special invitation to participate in the UTS Hong Kong after his historic run at the US Open, acknowledged the challenge of facing Rublev again. "I enjoyed every minute on the court as I had never taken part in such tournaments," Wong said. "The arena is amazing, a lot of fans were cheering for me from start to finish, I had my coach with me so it was fun, and I wish every tournament I play could be in Hong Kong".
The two-day tournament at the Kai Tak Arena is configured to seat 5,600 spectators. Wong also showed his support for Hong Kong football, mentioning he attended the Asian Cup qualifier against Bangladesh at the Kai Tak Stadium before his match. "A few players on the team are my good friends, they all play hard and enjoy being members of the team," Wong said. "We always support each other. I am happy that my friends were playing next door tonight; it felt special".
Rublev, known as "Rublo" in the UTS series, is recognized for his aggressive, first-strike style of play. He has a strong record in UTS events, including winning UTS Frankfurt in 2023 and UTS Oslo in 2024. To keep his hopes of playing the UTS Grand Final in London alive, Rublev needs to reach the semi-finals.
Wong, on the other hand, needed to win the trophy to qualify for the Grand Final, marking his debut in the UTS series. His participation in the UTS Hong Kong marks a significant milestone in his career, providing him with the opportunity to compete against world-class players on home soil.
Other quarterfinal matches at the UTS Hong Kong included Alex de Minaur vs Zhang Zhizhen, Jerry Shang Juncheng vs Richard Gasquet, and Francisco Cerundolo vs Adrian Mannarino. The tournament winner will take home US$305,700 and the Zeus Trophy.