The under-16 teams representing Hong Kong – Vienna Lai, Jane Wong, Rosalyn Chan (girls) and Jacker Cheung, Jacob Shen, Nicholas Cheng (boys) – finished sixth overall at this year’s Asia/Oceania Qualifying held in Shymkent, Kazakhstan. Both contingents made it to the knockout stage, with the girls coming away second best against No. 3 seed Australia in the last eight, while the boys were just one win shy of a place in the World Finals, as they ran into a rampant Japanese side in the quarterfinals. After the positional playoffs, the boys finished 6th in the Junior Davis Cup, while the girls also attained the same placing in the Junior Billie Jean King Cup.
The girls initially were dealt No. 4 seed Korea, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka in Group C. After opening their campaign with a 3-0 victory against Indonesia, Sri Lanka drew level at 1-1 when Dinara De Silva, who carried Sri Lanka to first place at the pre-qualifying in Colombo, beat Jane Wong at the one spot 6-3 6-3 before Vienna Lai and Rosalyn Chan overpowered the opposition in the deciding doubles to cement the team a 2-1 victory. The team qualified for the knockout stage as Group C runner-up despite a loss against the Koreans in their final round robin match.
In the quarterfinals, Hong Kong ran into a 3rd-seeded Australian side spearheaded by Tennis Australia’s National Tennis Academy (NTA) player Tahlia Kokkinis, who was the 2021 Australian Junior Claycourt Championships under-12 winner and already twice qualified for the maindraw of a W15 pro circuit event last year. Two weeks prior to Shymkent, Kokkinis almost took out Taiwanese WTA No. 377 Lee Ya-Hsuan at the W25 Osaka, barely going down by the score of 4-6 6-4 [11-9]. Alana Subasic, at No. 2 singles, was a semifinalist of the 2022 18U Australian Championships at Melbourne Park.
Although they lost to Australia, the HK girls did well to regroup to beat No. 5 seed Chinese Taipei in the 5th-8th Place Playoffs the following day that was highlighted by Jane Wong’s 1-6 7-6(2) [10-8] tie-clinching win over ITF No. 236 Chu Li-Ya at the one spot. The team eventually settled for sixth spot overall following a loss against Uzbekistan.
Jose Blasi (Captain): “It is always an honour and a fantastic experience to be able to participate as captain in the most important team competition in its Asian phase for U16 girls. Very happy with the effort, attitude, and atmosphere of the team during the qualifying event. What remains to be done is to continue working hard and be a little more competitive every day to be closer to countries like Japan, Korea or Australia.”
Vienna Lai: “I’m really honoured to represent Hong Kong to participate in the JBJKC again. I believe we have the ability to rank even higher. Playing with different girls outside of HK made me gain confidence and to understand where I have to improve on. The trip to Kazakhstan was really treasurable.”
Jane Wong: “It was an honour to represent Hong Kong. The event was so well organised. Lovely atmosphere and great hospitality by Kazakhstan. Very nice to catch up with friends from other countries too. Having said that, the weather conditions were really challenging and I believe I have learnt to overcome and deal with adversities much better.”
Rosalyn Chan: “It was an honour to represent Hong Kong in the Billie Jean King Cup Juniors, and it was a great opportunity to compete against many high-level players.”
Meanwhile, the Junior Davis Cup team drew No. 1 seed Korea, Singapore, and Malaysia in Group A for the round robins. After a 2-1 victory against Singapore on opening day, Jacob Shen managed to overcome opposing No. 1 Annas Muhammad 7-6(2) 6-7(5) 6-3 in over three-hours of play for the tie-clincher following Nicholas Cheng’s point at the two spot. Against the Koreans, however, junior world No. 145 Jeong Yeonsu and No. 168 Hwang Donghyun, the two highest-ranked players in Shymkent this week, proved too strong, as TeamHK finished second in the group to progress to the knockout stage. Second-seeded India’s defeat to No. 7 seed Japan in their last group match meant that the former had to contend with top seed Korea in the quarterfinals, while the latter got No. 6 seed Hong Kong instead.
Japan’s two starting singles players, No. 833 Hiromasa Koyama and No. 1454 Ren Matsumura, made a mockery of the world rankings when they took down India’s 193rd-ranked Kriish Tyagi and 296th-ranked Rethin Pranav, continued on with their rampage by seeing off Hong Kong, Thailand, and Korea to win this year’s Asia/Oceania Qualifying.
Although disappointed not to have qualified for the Finals, the boys from Hong Kong did well to bounce back the next day with Jacob Shen and Nicholas Cheng winning the deciding doubles 3-6 6-3 [10-8] to register a 2-1 victory over Uzbekistan in the 5th-8th Place Playoffs. The team then settled for sixth place overall following a 2-0 loss to No. 2 seed India.
Manuel Jorquera (Captain): “It is a privilege to have had the opportunity to represent Hong Kong and guide the JDC team in this important event. The boys team earned the right to compete in Kazakhstan by winning the pre-qualifying event in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It was a long journey and competing on clay it was a very interesting experience for our players. Playing against the top Asian countries in this event was a good point of reference for us to know where we are and what we have to do to keep improving. Our focus now is to keep developing young players and work with a long term vision. This year, we lost to the top two teams but hopefully next year we will be able to qualify for the World Finals. I would like to thank the players and their parents for the effort and trust and especially HKTA for supporting us every step of the way.”
Jacob Shen: “I had an incredible experience this year at the Junior Davis Cup in Shymkent. It was wonderful for me to compete against the best players in Asia, as well as competing on red clay in a team format. Overall, I have learned a lot from this experience and had a lot of fun as well.”
Jacker Cheung: “It was a pleasure to play against the top players in Asia, and learn different things from them, such as the physical and mental aspects.”
Nicholas Cheng: “I had an amazing experience at the Junior Davis Cup. It was an honour to represent my home country. Hope to see you all next year!”
History
Hong Kong qualified for the Junior Davis Cup World Finals in 2001, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, and 2019.
Hong Kong qualified for the Junior Billie Jean King Cup World Finals in 1985, 2005, 2006, and 2018.
Results
Billie Jean King Cup Juniors by Gainbridge
Asia/Oceania Qualifying
Shymkent, Kazakhstan
May 1-6, 2023
Group C
(7)Hong Kong defeated Indonesia 3-0
R1 Vienna Lai (HKG) d. Cylova Hukmasabiyya (INA) 2-6 6-2 6-2
R2 Jane Wong (HKG) d. Anjali Junarto (INA) 6-2 6-3
R3 Jane Wong/Rosalyn Chan (HKG) d. Anjali Junarto/Cylova Hukmasabiyya (INA) 6-4 6-2
(7)Hong Kong defeated Sri Lanka 2-1
R1 Vienna Lai (HKG) d. Inuki Jayaweera (SRI) 6-0 6-1
R2 Dinara De Silva (SRI) d. Jane Wong (HKG) 6-3 6-3
R3 Vienna Lai/Rosalyn Chan (HKG) d. Dinara De Silva/Ruvi Lewkebandara (SRI) 6-0 6-0
(4)Korea defeated (7)Hong Kong 3-0
R1 Lee Suha (KOR) d. Rosalyn Chan (HKG) 6-2 6-2
R2 Son Hayoon (KOR) d. Jane Wong (HKG) 6-2 6-2
R3 Lee Suha/Choi Seoyun (KOR) d. Vienna Lai/Rosalyn Chan (HKG) 6-4 6-2
Quarterfinals
(3)Australia defeated (7)Hong Kong 2-0
R1 Alana Subasic (AUS) d. Vienna Lai (HKG) 6-4 6-0
R2 Tahlia Kokkinis (AUS) d. Jane Wong (HKG) 7-5 6-1
R3 Doubles Not Played
5th-8th Place Playoffs
(7)Hong Kong defeated (5)Chinese Taipei 3-0
R1 Vienna Lai (HKG) d. Huang Yi-Ching (TPE) 6-4 6-1
R2 Jane Wong (HKG) d. Chu Li-Ya (TPE) 1-6 7-6(2) [10-8]
R3 Vienna Lai/Rosalyn Chan (HKG) d. Huang Yi-Ching/Chai Yu-Ning (TPE) 2-1 Retired
5th-6th Place Playoff
Uzbekistan defeated (7)Hong Kong 2-0
R1 Nigina Alimova (UZB) d. Rosalyn Chan (HKG) 6-4 6-3
R2 Zlata Chinnova (UZB) d. Vienna Lai (HKG) 6-3 4-6 [10-6]
R3 Doubles Not Played
JBJKC Final Positions (Brackets denote seedings):
1. Japan(2)
2. Kazakhstan(6)
3. Australia(3)
—————————— Top 3 qualified for Finals
4. Korea(4)
5. Uzbekistan
6. Hong Kong(7)
7. Chinese Taipei(5)
8. Thailand(1)
9. Iran
10. New Zealand(8)
11. India
12. Indonesia
13. Vietnam
14. Kyrgyzstan
15. Sri Lanka
16. Mongolia
Results
Davis Cup Juniors
Asia/Oceania Qualifying
Shymkent, Kazakhstan
May 8-13, 2023
Group A
(6)Hong Kong defeated Singapore 2-1
R1 Chua Min Jie (SIN) d. Jacker Cheung (HKG) 7-6(6) 6-4
R2 Jacob Shen (HKG) d. Ethan Ko (SIN) 6-1 6-2
R3 Jacob Shen/Nicholas Cheng (HKG) d. Ethan Ko/Chua Min Jie (SIN) 6-2 6-1
(6)Hong Kong defeated Malaysia 2-1
R1 Nicholas Cheng (HKG) d. Devesh Sarawanan (MAS) 6-1 6-3
R2 Jacob Shen (HKG) d. Annas Muhammad (MAS) 7-6(2) 6-7(5) 6-3
R3 Devesh Sarawanan/Matthew Goh (MAS) d. Jacob Shen/Nicholas Cheng (HKG) Walkover
(1)Korea defeated (6)Hong Kong 3-0
R1 Hwang Donghyun (KOR) d. Nicholas Cheng (HKG) 6-2 6-1
R2 Jeong Yeonsu (KOR) d. Jacob Shen (HKG) 6-3 6-1
R3 Jeong Yeonsu/Kim Moobeeb (KOR) d. Nicholas Cheng/Jacker Cheung (HKG) 6-4 6-4
Quarterfinals
(7)Japan defeated (6)Hong Kong 3-0
R1 Ren Matsumura (JPN) d. Jacker Cheung (HKG) 6-2 6-1
R2 Hiromasa Koyama (JPN) d. Jacob Shen (HKG) 6-1 6-0
R3 Ren Matsumura/Hyu Kawanishi (JPN) d. Jacob Shen/Nicholas Cheng (HKG) 6-3 7-6(4)
5th-8th Place Playoffs
(6)Hong Kong defeated Uzbekistan 2-1
R1 Jacker Cheung (HKG) d. Nuriddin Bakhtiyorov (UZB) 6-1 6-1
R2 Abdulaziz Usmonjonov (UZB) d. Jacob Shen (HKG) 6-4 6-3
R3 Jacob Shen/Nicholas Cheng (HKG) d. Abdulaziz Usmonjonov/Sukhrob Saidov (UZB) 3-6 6-3 [10-8]
5th-6th Place Playoff
(2)India defeated (6)Hong Kong 2-0
R1 Rethin Pranav (IND) d. Jacker Cheung (HKG) 6-2 6-0
R2 Kriish Tyagi (IND) d. Jacob Shen (HKG) 7-5 6-3
R3 Doubles Not Played
FINAL POSITIONS (Brackets denote seedings):
1. Japan(7)
2. Korea(1)
3. Kazakhstan(4)
4. Thailand(8)
—————————– Top 4 qualified for Finals
5. India(2)
6. Hong Kong(6)
7. Australia(3)
8. Uzbekistan
9. Chinese Taipei(5)
10. New Zealand
11. Indonesia
12. Malaysia
13. Vietnam
14. Singapore
15. Iran
16. Pakistan