Hong Kong tennis star Coleman Wong is looking forward to mixing it up with both familiar rivals and new challengers at the upcoming Hong Kong Tennis Open.

The tournament will be held from January 4 to 11 at the Victoria Park Tennis Court.

Wong is riding high from a strong season, highlighted by a historic run at the US Open, where he pushed world-class opponent Andrey Rublev to five sets before bowing out in the last 32.

He noted that he has faced Rublev and other top players like Wu Yibing several times, making their styles familiar to one another.

Yet it is the prospect of meeting unfamiliar opponents that adds an extra spark to the upcoming home tournament.

Beyond individual matches, Wong remains focused on a larger goal, which is proving that Hong Kong players can compete at the highest level.

"People tend to feel that foreign players are better because many of the top tennis players are usually foreign. But I don’t believe that we are incapable," he said.

"It’s not about where you come from; what matters is having the confidence that you can do it and having a dream. This is really important."

Wong stresses that continuous improvement is essential to avoid being left behind in the rapidly evolving game.

That same driven mentality fuels his desire to perform in front of a home crowd.

"When playing abroad, there aren’t any home fans, which makes a huge difference," he said.

"Victoria Park is where I started playing tennis. This makes it even more special, so I really hope many fans come to support me."

Whether he wins or loses, Wong hopes the event will deepen the local audience’s appreciation for the sport.

"I hope everyone enjoys tennis, learns to appreciate its charm and experiences some good playing," he said.

Looking beyond the Hong Kong Open, Wong has set his sights on a strong 2026 season, with major targets including the Australian Open and the Asian Games in Nagoya.