Who doesn’t love a good upset? The Miami Open has become a hotspot for them. Carlos Alcaraz, the World No. 3, fell to David Goffin. Rising star Alexandra Eala stunned reigning Australian Open champion, Madison Keys. And even, Coleman Wong has joined the list of giant slayers. Like Eala, Wong is a Rafa Nadal Academy trainee. The Hong Kong native made his mark in the second phase of the Sunshine Double by taking down 13th seed Ben Shelton in a thrilling second-round battle. Wong edged past the American 7-6(3), 2-6, 7-6(5). But did you know his tennis journey began purely by accident?
Coleman Wong was five years old when his older sister, Elana, was scheduled for a private lesson at Victoria Park, home of the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open. She fell ill, and their parents, Bruce and Dora, didn’t want the session to go to waste. So, they sent her brother in her place. And what do you know it? The 20-year-old gradually took a liking to the racquet sport.“I really liked it,” Wong told ATPTour.com. “I was a bit out of shape, I was a bit chubby, and at first, it was just for keeping fit. Then, slowly, I grew.”
Infact the Hong Kong native had no familiarity with tennis. No one in his family has a sporting history. His parents are both in the education industry with his father being a school principal and his mother being a teacher. His sister chose the banking industry to build her profession, making Wong the eccentric one!
Fifteen years later, Wong is competing at the Miami Open. He continued his dream run by defeating Daniel Altmaier 6-4, 6-3 in the second round. “It feels unreal. This year I’ve been struggling a little bit, playing tougher tournaments. That’s why I’m not winning a lot,” Wong said. “Maybe sometimes I win a round and then I lose second round, playing some really good players. 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.”
From a last-minute replacement to taking down top-ranked players, Wong’s journey is just getting started.
The post How Did Coleman Wong’s Sister Elana’s Illness Pave the Way for His Tennis Journey? Here’s What You Need to Know appeared first on EssentiallySports.