Coleman Wong, a 21-year-old tennis player from Hong Kong, has etched his name in the history books by securing his first-round victory at the US Open. Wong's achievement marks a significant milestone for Hong Kong tennis, as he becomes the first player from the region to participate in the men's singles main draw of a Grand Slam tournament in the Open Era. The last player from Hong Kong to compete in the US Open men's singles main draw was Ip Koon-hung in 1947.
Wong's journey to the US Open began with a successful qualifying campaign. In the final round, he defeated Billy Harris of Britain with a 6-3, 6-4 victory. This win propelled him into the main draw, where he faced American Aleksandar Kovacevic. Prior to the match, Kovacevic was slightly favored to win. Ultimately, Wong defied expectations and secured a historic first-round win.
Before the US Open, Wong had an ATP singles ranking of No. 128 in September 2024. He is also the highest-ranked male Hong Kong tennis player in history, breaking into the top 300 and later the top 150 in the rankings. Wong represents Hong Kong in the Davis Cup, with a record of 18 wins and 7 losses. Wong's parents are both educators; his father, Bruce, is a principal, and his mother, Dora, is a teacher. Wong is currently a business student at the University of Hong Kong.
Wong started playing tennis at the age of five. He has won five singles and five doubles titles at the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors, with a singles win-loss record of 101-54 (65%) and a doubles record of 66-44 (60%). He achieved a career-high junior ranking of 11 on October 10, 2022. Wong's parents have been supportive of his tennis career since he began playing at age five.
Wong has trained at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca since he was 17 years old. In 2025, Wong earned his first ATP Masters 1000 win at the Miami Open. He also defeated Ben Shelton, ranked No. 14 at the time, in the second round, marking the biggest win of his career.
Aleksandar Kovacevic, Wong's first-round opponent, is a 26-year-old American tennis player. He was born in New York, NY. Kovacevic's current world ranking is 71. Last year at the US Open, Kovacevic lost to Frances Tiafoe in the first round. Despite the loss, Kovacevic had a successful year, reaching his first ATP final in Montpellier, France, and another in Los Cabos, Mexico. He also secured his first win over a top-ten player, Andrey Rublev.
Wong's historic win at the US Open is expected to significantly boost his career and inspire future generations of tennis players in Hong Kong. His achievement has already garnered widespread attention and praise from the Hong Kong, China Tennis Association and fans alike.