Eye on the aim: Hong hopes to clinch a second ATP Challenger in addition to play at Roland-Garros.
| Photo Credit: SUDHAKARA JAIN
Seongchan Hong is a person in a rush. The fleet-footed 26-year-old tennis participant from South Korea is racing in opposition to time to realise his dreams before leaving for obligatory military service on the finish of the 12 months as mandated by his nation’s legal guidelines.
One of these is successful his second ATP Challenger trophy, a feat he agonisingly fell in need of on Sunday within the dafaNews Bengaluru Open last, and likewise in Thailand final month. Another is to play at Roland-Garros, the location of his first-ever Major look, albeit within the qualifying rounds.
“I have to go to the army this year and I can’t play for one-and-a-half years,” Hong informed reporters right here. “This will be my last year of touring. I can only play tournaments within South Korea. That’s why I want to focus hard and enjoy myself on the court as much as I can.”
Like his compatriot and famed Tottenham Hotspur ahead Heungmin Son, Hong would have been exempted from the military’s calling if he had received a gold medal on the Asian Games.
But in Hangzhou final 12 months, in a curious twist, it was India’s Ramkumar Ramanathan and Saketh Myneni who ended that pursuit by defeating Hong and his companion Soonwoo Kwon within the doubles semifinals.
“The losing feeling in the Asian Games was very difficult to handle because now I have to go to the army,” stated Hong. “I won a bronze, so there was some enjoyment… but yeah.
“Now, I cannot compete with other players on the Tour. Rankings will also take a dip. And then, when I come back, I will be 29-30. That means it will be tough for me physically and mentally.”
Not giving up
But Hong isn’t giving up. He plans to keep in contact with the game even when within the military and desires to be again on the Tour.
“The army has a tennis team and I will be playing there. I have to follow the training in the military service and in my free time I can play.
“I want to come back, if I’m physically okay and if my family is okay to let me travel again. I just love the competition.”
