Coleman Wong Reveals He Nearly Quit Tennis Before Joining Nadal Academy

The Hong Kong native credits Rafael Nadal's academy for his rise in professional tennis.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Coleman Wong, a rising tennis star from Hong Kong, has revealed that he was close to quitting the sport before being approached by Rafael Nadal's academy in Spain. Wong, who is currently participating in the Delray Beach Open, shared that joining the Nadal Academy in 2017 at the age of 17 was a turning point in his career. He has since gone on to make the main draw of several ATP 1000 events and reach the third round of the US Open.

Why it matters

Wong's story highlights the importance of mentorship and training opportunities for young athletes. The Nadal Academy has a reputation for developing top talent, and Wong's success is a testament to the impact such programs can have. His journey also underscores the challenges faced by aspiring professional athletes and the pivotal role that support systems can play in helping them overcome setbacks and reach their full potential.

The details

After starting tennis at age 5, Wong left his native Hong Kong at 17 to train at the Nadal Academy in Spain. He credits this move with allowing him to become a professional player, saying "without making that move, I wouldn't be able to become a professional player." Wong has since trained with Nadal himself on multiple occasions and won the boys' doubles title at the 2022 Australian Open. While he has yet to make a major impact on the ATP Tour, Wong has steadily climbed the ranks, making the main draw of several ATP 1000 events and reaching the third round of the 2022 US Open.

  • In 2017, at age 17, Wong left Hong Kong to train at the Nadal Academy in Spain.
  • In 2022, Wong won the boys' doubles title at the Australian Open, partnering with Bruno Kuzuhara.
  • In 2024, Wong played his first ATP 1000 main draw match at the Miami Open, losing in the first round.
  • In 2022, Wong reached the third round of the US Open, his best Grand Slam result to date.
  • In 2023, Wong is competing in the quarterfinals of the Delray Beach Open.

The players

Coleman Wong

A rising tennis player from Hong Kong who credits the Nadal Academy in Spain for helping him become a professional player.

Rafael Nadal

A 22-time Grand Slam champion and the founder of the Nadal Academy in Spain, which has helped develop young talent like Coleman Wong.

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What they’re saying

“As I said, I was thinking to go on a different route and then… Yeah, Rafa's…they invited me to go over and try and then, to try all the facilities and try to be in a group of juniors, which, all top juniors… I learned a lot during those years, and then, I went through a lot… To be able to do well here, yeah, I really wanna keep going.”

— Coleman Wong (firstsportz.com)

What’s next

Wong will face Flavio Cobolli in the quarterfinals of the Delray Beach Open, looking to continue his strong run at the ATP 250 event.

The takeaway

Coleman Wong's journey from nearly quitting tennis to becoming a rising star on the ATP Tour thanks to the support and training provided by Rafael Nadal's academy underscores the transformative impact that mentorship and access to top-tier facilities can have on young athletes' careers. His story serves as an inspiration for aspiring tennis players around the world.