“I want to show them I’m a better player next year”: Shek’s home debut at the Hong Kong Open

Yandy Shek Cheuk-ying grew up playing junior tournaments in Victoria Park. On Saturday, the 21-year-old returned to the same venue for her WTA Tour debut, with the crowd screaming her name. She lost 6-4, 6-2 to top qualifying seed Aliaksandra Sasnovich, and left with a list of what she needs to improve.

“I grew up in Hong Kong and played tournaments here in Victoria Park when I was younger, but it was never the same because this big tournament, this is a world stage,” Shek said. “All the fans were there supporting me and screaming my name, and they really gave me the energy, and I’m so happy that I can play in front of them and I want to show them I’m a better player next year.”

Ranked No. 632, Shek faced a player ranked No. 112 in the first round of qualifying at the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open. She trailed 5-1 in the first set before winning three games in a row to reach 5-4, on serve. Sasnovich converted her third set point to close out the set and went on to win the match in 1 hour and 22 minutes.

My mental can be much stronger, and getting used to this big tournament is one thing that I would like to do.

“Playing such a top player, I would say I was so nervous at the start because I don’t know what to expect and I want to show my best to the Hong Kong fans and my family and friends,” Shek said. “I didn’t play my best at the start, but I’m glad that I came back from 5-1 and finally got into it and hung there. I got so much support from Hong Kong fans, and I felt the energy from them, and they really kept me going.”

The match showed her where the gap lies. “My mental can be much stronger, and getting used to this big tournament is one thing that I would like to do,” she said. “And also the stability of my stroke and serve and everything just makes a difference in a match.”

Shek was one of several Hong Kong players in the qualifying draw. Cody Wong also fell in the first round, beaten 6-4, 6-2 by second seed Himeno Sakatsume after leading by a break in both sets, and wildcard Ching Laam Lai lost 6-1, 6-2 to sixth seed Carol Young Suh Lee. Shek, Wong and Adithya Karunaratne will also play doubles this week.