In the under-18 boys’ singles, top seed Joshua Kim, who captured last month’s J60 Hong Kong, beat defending champion Etienne Lee, 6-2, 6-1, to claim his maiden title here at the nationals. In the under-18 girls’ singles, third seed Rosalyn Chan defeated Athena Yeung in straight sets, 7-5, 6-3, to take home the honours. Just three months ago, Yeung came from a set down to beat Chan 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-2, to win the CRC Open 2022 Schoolgirls’ title. Chan, now having won the under-10 title here at Victoria Park in 2018, the under-12 in 2020, and both under-14 and under-16 from last year, she thus became the second player to capture the girls’ singles title in all five age-groups since the under-10s were first introduced in 2001. Ophelia Tang, however, was the first to do so when she bagged the G18 crown in 2021 to complete her full set of five age-group trophies.
In the under-16 boys’ singles final, a pair of representatives from this year’s Junior Davis Cup team faced off against one another, with No. 5 seed Jacker Cheung ultimately defeating eighth-seeded Nicholas Cheng in straight sets, 6-2, 6-0. Cheung, who won last year’s B14 title, also took home the under-16 boys’ doubles when he partnered Walter Tam to beat Aidan Bart/Antonio Lee, 6-2, 7-6(5). Meanwhile, No. 2 seed Vienna Lai, who finished runner-up to Rosalyn Chan in 2022, turned the tables on her third-seeded opponent by producing a pair of service breaks in either set to runaway with a 6-2, 6-2 victory in the final. The G16 doubles went to Rosalyn Chan/Hebe Leung, who combined to beat Celeste Yeh/Athena Yeung, 6-3, 6-3.
In the under-14 boys’ singles, newcomer Choi Fu Wang, who had to qualify just to make the maindraw, saw off No. 3 seed Alex Hui and top seed Selwyn Wong en route to the final where he would go on to defeat 5th seed Andre Bart, 3-6, 6-3, 6-0 to strong-arm the title. Then, in the under-12 boys’ singles, also as a qualifier, Choi Fu Wang swept all before him, as he conceded just 5 games in 5 matches, while accounting for the top 3 seeds to bulldoze his way to the title.
In the under-14 girls’ singles final, top-seeded Hebe Leung, who won the G12 title two years ago, was declared the champion after her opponent Sera Park was unfortunately forced to retire due to an injury. In the under-12 girls’ singles, No. 1 seed Helena Liu, the G10 champion in 2021, overcame fourth seed Ella Wong, 6-1, 6-2, to triumph for the first time in this age-group. She also added the doubles by teaming up with Ma Ka Hei to beat second-seeded Fung Sum Hin/Hayden Wong, 6-4, 6-1, in the title decider. In the under-10 girls’ singles, No. 1-seeded Lenka Hung beat second seed Lau Chin Laam, 4-0, 5-4(6), to claim her maiden age-group title here at Victoria Park.
Turns out, one the most closely-fought battles this year came in the under-10 boys’ singles final between No. 4 seed Sebastian Wong and 2nd seed Jesse Chu. At 1-1 in the opening set, Chu fell behind 0-40 on his serve but proceeded to save four straight break points before he finally held to lead 2-1. At 2-2, 40-30, Chu had game point opportunity five times in a row but was met with stiff resistance from Wong on every occasion. Moreover, Chu himself had to dig deep to save a break point before he eventually held to go up 3-2. Serving to stay in the set, Wong was confronted with a 0-40 situation and although he managed to save the first couple of break points, Chu converted his third chance to secure the opener, 4-2.
After exchanging an early break to start the second, the players held firm to arrive at a 3-3 stalemate when Wong pounced again to break for 4-3. Serving for the set, Wong was unable to capitalise on a 40-30 advantage and, in turn, was then forced to save a break point following deuce before he finally held for the set, 5-3.
In the third, Wong, keen on riding the wave of momentum, broke his opponent right away and consolidated for a quick-fire 2-0 lead. However, Chu’s response was swift and he broke back to force a 2-2 impasse before he held again to go up 3-2. Serving to stay in the match, Wong managed to hold at 15 to draw even at 3-3 before he broke the No. 2 seed to love to move ahead 4-3. Now, serving for the match, yet trailing 15-30, he strung together the next three points on the trot for the final hold to claim this year’s B10 title, 2-4, 5-3, 5-3.
Singles
Boys’ 18 & Under
(1)Joshua Kim d. (6)Etienne Lee 6-2 6-1
Girls’ 18 & Under
(3)Rosalyn Chan d. Athena Yeung 7-5 6-3
Boys’ 16 & Under
(5)Jacker Cheung d. (8)Nicholas Cheng 6-2 6-0
Girls’ 16 & Under
(2)Vienna Lai d. (3)Rosalyn Chan 6-2 6-2
Boys’ 14 & Under
(q)Choi Fu Wang d. (5)Andre Bart 3-6 6-3 6-0
Girls’ 14 & Under
(1)Hebe Leung d. Sera Park 1-0 Retired
Boys’ 12 & Under
(q)Choi Fu Wang d. (1)Lok Chun Kiu 6-1 6-0
Girls’ 12 & Under
(1)Helena Liu d. (4)Ella Wong 6-1 6-2
Boys’ 10 & Under
(4)Sebastian Wong d. (2)Jesse Chu 2-4 5-3 5-3
Girls’ 10 & Under
(1)Lenka Hung d. (2)Lau Chin Laam 4-0 5-4(6)
Doubles
Boys’ 18 & Under
(3)Li Ho Wan/Ng Ka Long d. (2)Michael Cheung/Christian Wong 6-3 7-6(6)
Girls’ 18 & Under
(1)Rachel Kan/Emma Kast d. (2)Cheng Hiu Lam/Leung Nga Lam 6-3 6-4
Boys’ 16 & Under
(2)Jacker Cheung/Walter Tam d. Aidan Bart/Antonio Lee 6-2 7-6(5)
Girls’ 16 & Under
(1)Rosalyn Chan/Hebe Leung d. Celeste Yeh/Athena Yeung 6-3 6-3
Boys’ 14 & Under
(1)Andre Bart/Alex Hui d. (2)Kevin Chan/Carison Fung 6-1 6-0
Girls’ 14 & Under
(3)Sze Hiu Tung/Chloe Wong d. Ofelia Leitner/Nitya Madduri 6-3 6-0
Boys’ 12 & Under
(1)Andreas Chau/Lok Chun Kiu d. (2)Justin Chan/Yeung Ho Wan 3-6 7-6 [10-3]
Girls’ 12 & Under
(1)Helena Liu/Ma Ka Hei d. (2)Fung Sum Hin/Hayden Wong 6-4 6-1