The Miami Open is no stranger to surprise victories, and this year was no exception. Carlos Alcaraz, the world’s third-best tennis player, succumbed to David Goffin. The reigning Australian Open champion, Madison Keys, was taken aback by the rising star Alexandra Eala. However, the most unexpected upset was delivered by Coleman Wong, a Rafa Nadal Academy trainee, who successfully took down the 13th seed, Ben Shelton.
Born in Hong Kong, Wong found his footing on the tennis court during the second phase of the Sunshine Double, outshining Shelton in a nail-biting match, 7-6(3), 2-6, 7-6(5). But did you know that Wong’s journey to tennis stardom was sparked by a twist of fate?
At the tender age of five, Wong was thrust into the world of tennis as a substitute for his older sister, Elana, who was set to have a private lesson at Victoria Park, the venue for the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open. When Elana fell ill, their parents, both educators named Bruce and Dora, decided not to let the opportunity go to waste and sent Coleman in her stead. This unplanned introduction to tennis piqued the young boy’s interest. “I really liked it,” Wong recalled in an interview with ATPTour.com. “Initially, it was just for keeping fit. Then, slowly, I grew.”
Despite his family’s lack of sporting history and his sister choosing a career in banking, Wong, now 20, took an unconventional path and embraced tennis as his passion.
Fast forward fifteen years, and Wong is now a formidable force on the tennis court, competing in the Miami Open. He recently triumphed over Daniel Altmaier with a 6-4, 6-3 win in the second round. “It feels unreal,” Wong confessed. “This year I’ve been struggling a little bit, playing tougher tournaments. That’s why I’m not winning a lot. But I’m really happy to get one of my biggest wins in my career. For me, it means a lot, and I really hope it’s the first of many.”
Wong’s remarkable journey from a last-minute fill-in to a giant-slayer is just beginning. This story of his unexpected entry into the world of tennis and subsequent rise to prominence underscores the unpredictable and thrilling nature of the sport.