ATP Tour

Wong upsets top seed Lehecka in Los Cabos, closes in on Top 100 debut

Coleman Wong earned his biggest career win by PIF ATP Ranking on Wednesday when he upset World No. 12 Jiri Lehecka at the Mifel Tennis Open by Telcel Oppo.

In humid conditions, the Hong Kong native rallied past the top-seeded Czech 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals of the ATP 250 event. Wong clinched the memorable victory with an ace down the T in the Ad-court and immediately dropped his racquet in relief, lifting his hands over his face.

“Wow,” Wong said with a smile, beginning his on-court interview. “The whole match was so close. The first set went so fast, I didn’t expect to come back in the second set. I just tried to hang in there, keep believing and keep trusting myself because it’s not often I play all these big tournaments.

“[Jiri is] one of the top dudes in the world. He plays the ball really well. He hits it really clean. I watch him a lot, playing other top players like Sinner and all those big players. I’m just really happy and excited to share a court with these guys and to be able to get it done is another level. I’m really proud of myself today.”

Following his win, Wong is up to No. 102 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, inching closer toward his Top 100 debut. Wong began this season by reaching his maiden tour-level quarter-final at his home ATP 250 in Hong Kong. The 22-year-old matched that feat in Delray Beach.

Wong, who in May became the first player from Hong Kong to win an ATP Challenger title, will meet American Jenson Brooksby in the last eight. Brooksby beat Australian lucky loser Edward Winter 6-3, 6-4.

Lehecka was competing for the first time since reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon, where he fell to eventual finalist Alexander Zverev.

In other Wednesday action, Denis Shapovalov stepped up his Los Cabos title defence with a 6-3, 6-2 triumph against home favourite Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez. The eighth-seeded Shapovalov converted three of four break points he earned to sink World No. 320 Pacheco Mendez, according to Infosys ATP Stats. Next up for the Canadian will be a quarter-final clash with Dalibor Svrcina, who led Luciano Darderi 3-0 when the second seed retired from their second-round meeting due to a right wrist injury.

Francisco Cerundolo also advanced to the quarter-finals via a retirement: The third seed trailed Tristan Boyer 6-7(4), 4-3 when his American opponent had to stop due to a stomach issue. Cerundolo will take on Frenchman Arthur Gea, a 0-6, 6-4, 6-0 winner against Michael Zheng, for a semi-final berth.