A brilliant new chapter has been written in the history of Hong Kong tennis! At just 21 years old, Hong Kong tennis player big brother Coleman Huang Che-lam triumphed over British player Billy Harris in the final round of the qualifying tournament at the US Open, held in the early hours of August 23. With an impressive performance, he won in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, successfully advancing to the main draw of the Grand Slam men’s singles. This makes him the first player from Hong Kong since the Open Era to achieve this remarkable feat, setting a new record for Hong Kong tennis!
Currently ranked 174th in the world, Huang Zelin has shown formidable strength in this tournament. He defeated Luxembourg’s Chris Rodesch and Italy’s 16th seed Matteo Gigante in the first two rounds, making it to the third round of the Grand Slam qualifiers for the first time, just one step away from the main event. In the battle for a main draw entry, Coleman faces off against British player Billy Harris, who is equally determined.
It’s worth noting that Billy Harris is currently ranked 151st in the world, and his skills should not be underestimated. The British player has already secured his spot in this year’s Wimbledon main draw through his ranking, and he has successfully reached the final qualifying rounds for the 2024 French Open, the US Open, and the 2025 Australian Open. His world ranking even climbed to a career-high of 101st last September. Huang Zelin has faced Billy Harris twice before; most recently, five months ago in a challenging match, Huang Zelin narrowly triumphed over his opponent in an intense three-set battle.
In today’s match, Huang Zelin continued his strong performance, dominating the court with an unstoppable momentum. With his stable serves and powerful returns, he seized key points multiple times, earning plenty of cheers from the Hong Kong fans in attendance. In the first set, both players fought fiercely, but after leading 3:2, Huang seized his first break point in the sixth game, solidifying his serve immediately after and widening the score to 5:2, ultimately taking the set 6:3.
The spirited Huang Zelin showcased impressive aggression in the second set, breaking serve early to take the lead. However, Billy Harris refused to give up, quickly breaking back to level the score, creating a tense stalemate. As the match progressed into the fifth game, Huang Zelin capitalized on his precise baseline shots and solid defense to secure another break, effectively sealing his victory. He ultimately concluded the matchup with a score of 6-4, finishing the contest with a 2-0 set lead, making history by earning a spot in the US Open men’s singles main draw.
This advancement to the Grand Slam main draw is not only a pivotal breakthrough in Huang Zelin’s personal career, but also brings encouragement and hope to Hong Kong tennis. Historically, representatives from Hong Kong have rarely made an appearance in the men’s singles main draw of the four major Grand Slam tournaments. This time, Coleman has become the first player from Hong Kong to enter the Grand Slam men’s singles main draw in the Open Era. After the match, Huang Zelin expressed that achieving his dream of successfully entering the US Open main draw feels surreal, and he extended his gratitude to his coaching team and family for their long-standing support. He also mentioned that the support from fans is his greatest motivation.
Next, Coleman is gearing up for the upcoming men’s singles main event. Faced with the challenges posed by the world’s top competitors, he admits feeling the pressure but is brimming with anticipation.
