Chinese Taipei reaffirmed its pre-game favouritism after Yang Tsung-Hua and Hsieh Cheng-Peng combined for a 6-3, 6-2, decision over Jack Wong and Brian Yeung in the crucial doubles to give the visitors an unassailable 3-0 lead over the home team in this Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Zone Group II 1st round tie.
On Saturday, Jason Jung gave Chinese Taipei an early 1-0 lead, as the ATP No. 132 was ruthlessly efficient in overcoming rookie Coleman Wong in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2. He broke Wong twice in each set, while holding an overwhelming 57-25 advantage in terms of Total Points Won. He never faced a break point on his own serve in the contest and was in control for the majority of the encounter.
Wong is now officially the youngest player to represent Hong Kong, China in the Davis Cup at 15 years and 99 days old, bettering the previous mark by 14 days that has stood since 1999. During player introductions on Centre Court, the crowd gave the young local debutante a huge reception.
“Like a star,” said the Taiwanese No. 1.
“Coleman was understandably a little nervous in the beginning and rushed his shots a bit. It took him some time to adjust to the pace of a world No. 132, but I think there are a lot of positives he can take away from this contest, learn from this, and build upon to improve his game,” said Captain Yu Hiu Tung.
Wong now heads to Florida to join his teammates Tim Gauntlett and Oscar Wai for the upcoming 2019 Finals for the Junior Davis Cup by BNP Paribas. The boys’ under-16 team placed 2nd at the Asia/Oceania Qualifying earlier this year to punch their ticket for the second year running.
In the second singles pitting Brian Yeung against Chinese Taipei’s Wu Tung-Lin, games went with serve until the eighth game when Wu finally broke through after squandering four break opportunities to lead 5-3. The 21-year-old quickly consolidated to wrap up the set 6-3.
Yeung was unable to find enough first deliveries with trusting regularity and Wu took advantage of a slew of second serves to break twice in succession for a 4-0 lead in the second. The world No. 238 was dominant on serve and never faced a break point, as he held to love for a 6-3, 6-2, win to give Chinese Taipei a commanding 2-0 lead at the end of Day 1.
In Sunday’s crucial doubles, Jack Wong and Brian Yeung fought valiantly till the end but Yang Tsung-Hua (ATP No. 164) and Hsieh Cheng-Peng (ATP No. 65), who between them have 29 Challenger titles in doubles to date, won 82% of the points on 1st and 2nd serves and enjoyed a huge 63-38 advantage in terms of Total Points Won. The visitors’, 6-3, 6-2, decision gave Chinese Taipei an unassailable 3-0 lead.
In the opening set, Yang and Hsieh drew first blood and broke to 15 in the fourth game to lead 3-1. Without facing a break point, that lone service break was sufficient to see the Taiwanese duo hold serve the rest of the way for 6-3.
TeamHK had to deal with the worst of starts when Yeung and Wong squandered five game points from 40-15 to lose serve in the beginning of the second set. However, the local duo fought hard to stay close and proceedings went with serve until the seventh game when Yang and Hsieh finally carved out a second break to lead 5-2. Then, from a 0-40 deficit, the Taiwanese pair wrestled five straight points to clinch the encounter, 6-3, 6-2.
“They played some pretty high level tennis today. Nothing fancy just very solid, serving and returning at a remarkably high percentage. We struggled with returning today and they were holding way too easily and that’s why there was more pressure for us to go for more and hit really good shots,” said Yeung.
With the outcome of the tie already decided, junior world No. 116 Kai Wai Yu replaced Brian Yeung in the first reverse singles against Tseng Chun-Hsin, who also took the spot of Jason Jung. Tseng, the 2018 ITF Junior World Champion, who has a current ATP ranking of No. 320, defeated Kai in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5, to complete the overall score line, 4-0.
The remaining dead rubber singles was not played.
With the loss, Hong Kong, China will head to the newly revamped World Group II Playoffs in March 2020. In the other Asia/Oceania Zone Group II first round ties, Thailand beat Philippines 3-1 at home back in April, while New Zealand saw off Indonesia by the same score line in Jakarta this weekend.
See also: ITF introduces global format for Davis Cup Groups I and II
Results
Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Zone Group II 1st Round
Hong Kong, China v Chinese Taipei
Victoria Park Tennis Stadium
Sep 14-15, 2019
Chinese Taipei defeated Hong Kong, China 4-0
R1 Jason Jung (TPE) d. Coleman Wong (HKG) 6-1 6-2
R2 Wu Tung-Lin (TPE) d. Brian Yeung (HKG) 6-3 6-2
R3 Yang Tsung-Hua/Hsieh Cheng-Peng (TPE) d. Jack Wong/Brian Yeung (HKG) 6-3 6-2
R4 Tseng Chun-Hsin (TPE) d. Kai Wai Yu (HKG) 6-2 7-5
R5 Coleman Wong (HKG) v Wu Tung-Lin (TPE) DNP