As Hong Kong, China prepare to host Uzbekistan in the Davis Cup World Group II first round this weekend, the captains of both teams agree the high-stakes match offers a perfect opportunity to test their newest players against challenging international tennis competition.

The tie, scheduled for September 13 and 14 at Victoria Park Centre Court, will see the fifth-seeded Uzbek squad face off against a home team eager to leverage local support.

Beyond the immediate goal of victory, both sides are focused on building experience for their emerging athletes.

Hong Kong captain Yu Hiu-tung confirmed that while star player Coleman Wong will draw attention, the event is crucial for newcomers Nicholas Cheng and Kai Thompson.

"For us players, it’s actually very exciting to be representing our home. It's ultimately a team event so there will be support from the entire team behind us. There are many aspects that are quite different from competing individually," he said.

Yu also emphasised the advantage of a home crowd, adding that he hopes to see a full house.

Echoing the sentiment, Uzbekistan captain Denis Istomin acknowledged the intense pressure of the tournament will itself be a valuable lesson for his junior players.

"For juniors or young players who just came in the team, of course it's really high and I think for them it's even better to play in the Davis Cup to have experience with this pressure and help them for the future with the other tournaments," he said.

The winner of the tie will advance to the 2026 World Group I Play-offs, while the losing team will contend with the World Group II Play-offs to avoid relegation.

The match also serves as a chance for Hong Kong to recapture past Davis Cup success. The team’s golden era spanned from 1988 to 1992, when they reached the Group II Final four times and earned promotion twice. Their most recent final run was in 2003.

Uzbekistan, a consistently strong team, has reached the World Group play-offs on 10 occasions.