HONG KONG, January 7, 2026 (Media Release)
Local star Coleman Wong Chak-lam has reached the quarterfinals of the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open (‘BOCHKTO’) 2026, his first ever ATP Tour last eight, with a hard fought three-set win over friend and doubles partner, Gabriel Diallo.
After an impressive first round win against world no. 75 Mariano Navone, the 21-year-old looked down and out in the first set against the Canadian’s powerful groundstrokes, losing it 6-1. Wong, who reached the third round at the US Open Men’s Singles last year, held a 5-2 lead in the second set before being caught by 40th ranked Diallo. The Hong Kong, China no. 1 regrouped in time to the set 7-5 before a tense decider that could have gone either way. Wong held his nerve to break Diallo in the 12th game to complete a famous 1-6, 7-5, 7-5 in front of a rapturous chrome crowd. Wong will play top seed Lorenzo Musetti in the quarterfinals.
What a WIN
Coleman Wong battles through a rollercoaster vs Diallo, taking it 1-6 7-5 7-5!#BOCHKTO2026 pic.twitter.com/E1nJZZhzd6
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) January 7, 2026
On his comeback win, Wong said:
“This win means a lot to me, to win at home. The match was so close, it was anybody’s game, just a few points here and there. It is always tough to play Gabriel. He hits really hard and his attacking game is so strong, and the first set went by so fast. However, I managed to stay calm, I kept believing, kept trying different things and somehow managed to prevail in the end.
“Tonight’s win against Gabriel is very important to me, and my team, it tells us that I belong here. This is my first ATP Tour quarterfinal. I will keep playing, and keep dreaming. Playing Lorenzo (Musetti) next, it will be a good one, let’s see what happens.”
15th National Games Men’s Singles Champion Wu Yibing started brightly against world no. 16 and tournament third seed, Andrey Rublev and took the first set 6-3. The 2024 BOCHKTO winner then found his rhythm and sailed through the next two sets 6-2, 6-1 to book his place in the last eight.
Wu is on the comeback trail after being sidelined for much of the last two seasons due to a foot issue. The 26-year-old was clinical in his victory over Fabian Marozsan in the first round but could not maintain his form and faded against the consistent Rublev.
All four medallists from the 15th National Games Men’s Singles competition are in Hong Kong this week, with Wong, Wu, and Jerry Shang Juncheng making the most of their wildcards by winning their first round matches. Shang will look to join Wong tomorrow when he takes on fifth seed Lorenzo Sonego of Italy.
Musetti is in the quarterfinals of BOCHKTO for the second consecutive year after a tough tussle with Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the opening match on Centre Court today. The Argentine took a tight first set on the tie-break, but the Italian world no. 8 fought back magnificently to claim a 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-4 victory.
On choosing to start his season in Hong Kong for the third year in a row, Musetti said:
“Hong Kong is a nice city and they are treating me really well here. The hospitality is great and the tournament direction is really really strong. They improve every year and that is what tournaments need to do. That’s why I’m very glad to be here and I hope to stay as long as I can.”
Eighth seed Nuno Borges of Portugal came through a potentially tricky contest against 2014 US Open Champion Marin Cilic. The Portuguese no. 1 was the more steady of the two and was always a little bit ahead in his 7-5, 6-3 win. Borges now faces Rublev for a place in the semifinals of the ATP season opening event.
Alexander Bublik will be making his eagerly awaited debut at BOCHKTO tomorrow when he takes on Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp at 6:00pm on Centre Court. 15th National Games Men’s Singles Runner up Shang plays Sonego to open play on Centre Court at 1:30pm.
Wong and Diallo will once again be on the same side of the court tomorrow as they attempt to make the doubles semifinals. The pair take on Constantin Frantzen and Robin Haase on Court One. Rublev and Karen Khachanov, who survived a match point in their doubles match last night, play Theo Arribage and Albano Olivetti of France, who beat Hong Kong’s Kai Thompson and Zhou Yi in the first round.
