Japan’s Yuki Mochizuki overcame the loss of the opening set to power past Jack Wong, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, to capture the US$25,000 Sony Hong Kong F1 Futures today at Victoria Park.  The doubles title went to local duo Kevin Wong and Brian Yeung, who dominated No. 1 seed Yi Chu-Huan and Francis Alcantara, 6-4, 6-2, to seal their second pro circuit title this year.

Presiding over the prize presentation ceremony was Mr. Tomohiro Nakashima, Division Managing Director at Sony Corporation of Hong Kong Limited.

In the opening set, Wong took advantage of the one opportunity he had to break Mochizuki in the third game to lead 2-1.  Although Mochizuki was a constant menace with his attacking play, the 20-year-old could not string together enough quality points to make a serious threat until the eighth game when Wong staved off break point from 30-40 down to hold for 5-3.

The Japanese then managed to ward off a set point in the tenth game before Wong knuckled down to hold for the set, 6-4.

In the ensuing set, games went with serve until 2-2 when Mochizuki wasted a pair of game points at 40-15 to allow Wong back to deuce.  With emotions running high under the torrid humidity, the world No. 672 was on the verge of boiling over, as he faced two break points while blowing another game point with an ill-timed double fault.

Yet, in view of his debilitating circumstance, Mochizuki somehow managed to find the lines to frustrate Wong by holding on dearly for 3-2.

A shift of momentum emanated at once when Wong committed three unforced errors to lose serve tamely.  The Japanese was now in full flight, producing inside-out forehand winners with increasing regularity to break again to take the set, 6-2.

Wong did well to get back in the match when he conjured a service break of his own to begin the third set.  The Hong Kong Davis Cupper then saved a break point in the next game to force deuce before Mochizuki caught fire with flowing winners off both wings.

Mochizuki by now was riding a wave of ascendancy and he put together a six-game run to close out the final, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, in just under two-and-a-half hours of play.  

“I played well in the first set and managed to take it with a lone break,” said Wong.  “Second set, I had two break points at two-all but couldn’t convert and the match really turned after that.  He was making everything that he was missing in the first and kept at a high level pretty much for the last set and a half.”

“Even so, I had a good week, and picked up some valuable ranking points.  I want to thank the coaches Amine, Lee, Ilija for prepping me all week, and all my teammates and supporters who came to cheer me on,” he added.

Earlier, in the doubles final on Friday, a highly-motivated Kevin Wong and Brian Yeung were all business, as they returned serve with penetrating efficiency and delivered well-timed forecourt intercepts time and again to dispose No. 1 seed Yi Chu-Huan and Francis Alcantara in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2.

This was title number two for the mercurial duo this year after their success at the Vietnam F1 Futures back in May.  They also went on to reach the final of the Vietnam F2 and Singapore F1 the following two weeks.

After picking up another 27 computer ranking points, both Wong and Yeung will rise to a new career-high mark within proximity of the Top 500.

“It felt great notching this win.  We had some very rocky matches in the previous rounds so I would say we played our best match in the final.  I’m glad we saved our best performance for last because they were not easy to overcome.   Very happy with this week’s win, starting off our road to the Asian Games with a strong note,” said Brian Yeung.

Results
US$25,000 Sony Hong Kong F1 Futures
Victoria Park, Hong Kong
Jun 25-30, 2018

Men’s Singles

First Round
Jack Wong (HKG) d. (q)Kai Wai Yu (HKG) 6-4 6-4

Second Round
Jack Wong (HKG) d. Michael Zhu (USA) 4-6 6-2 6-3

Quarterfinal
Jack Wong (HKG) d. Issei Okamura (JPN) 7-5 6-4

Semifinal
Jack Wong (HKG) d. (q)Congsup Congcar (THA) 6-3 6-2

Final
Yuki Mochizuki (JPN) d. Jack Wong (HKG) 4-6 6-2 6-1

Men’s Doubles

First Round
(4)Kevin Wong/Brian Yeung (HKG) d. Kazuki Nishiwaki/Issei Okamura (JPN) 7-5 2-6 [10-4]

Quarterfinal
(4)Kevin Wong/Brian Yeung (HKG) d. Haru Inoue/Ryota Tanuma (JPN) 4-6 6-3 [10-3]

Semifinal
(4)Kevin Wong/Brian Yeung (HKG) d. (2)Shintaro Imai/Yuta Shimizu (JPN) 6-4 1-6 [10-8]

Final
(4)Kevin Wong/Brian Yeung (HKG) d. (1)Yi Chu-Huan/Francis Alcantara (TPE/PHI) 6-4 6-2