My Influences: Coleman Wong in the first meeting with Carlos Alcaraz aged 15 | ATP Tour

Next Gen Influences

My Influences: Wong's first meeting with 15-year-old Alcaraz

This year, the 20-year-old became the first player from Hong Kong to win an ATP Tour match since 1972

October 31, 2024

Coleman Wong made history earlier this season when he became the first Hong Kong player since 1972 to win an ATP main draw match. The 20-year-old advanced to the second round at the ATP 250 in Hangzhou, earning valuable points in his quest to compete in the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF.

Currently ranked ninth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah, Wong will aim to finish the season strong and follow in the footsteps of previous champions who have competed in the 20-and-under event.

As part of our Next Gen Influences series, Wong caught up with ATPTour.com to talk about his first meeting with Carlos Alcaraz, his crush on Jannik Sinner and his goals for Jeddah.

Which former Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF champion did you enjoy watching the most when you were growing up?
I enjoyed watching Carlos Alcaraz a lot. I love watching Alcaraz play because of his game and his footwork. That [is how] I want to be in the future.

Which former champions are your biggest idols and do you remember meeting them for the first time?
I think it will be Carlos because I remember playing with him in the Junior Davis Cup when we were young. It was the first clay match of my life and I was against Carlos, [who won]. It was a happy occasion.

Which Next Gen ATP Finals presented by the PIF champion did you identify with the most?
I strongly identify with Jannik Sinner because of his time walking and making decisions.

Read more
My Influences: Shang in Alcaraz knowledge and parental support
My Influences: How Sinner helped Fonseca make this critical decision…
My Influences: Gaubas opens the 'amazing' experience of Alcaraz
My Impressions: Tien trusts the process and jumps at Michelsen
My Influences: Quinn on Sinner's 'support' and Paul's mentorship

Who have been some of the biggest influences in your life?
I would say my sister and cousin were the biggest influence. They always try to help me with things and are always there for me no matter what.

What have you learned this past year on Tour?
I learned that everyone on the Tour has their own special things and I am proud to be one of the players on the Tour.

What kind of qualities do you look for when bringing people into your team?
Obviously I would be looking for people to help me. I think it is very important that we get along well because we need to travel many weeks together a year.

Most of the current Top 20 in the PIF ATP Rankings played in the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF. How encouraging is that sight?
I hope that I will be able to enter the Next Gen Finals because it is my goal and to see most of the players who played in the Next Gen Finals before moving on to the Top 20 or Top 10 means a lot to me. I really want to be one of them.