Having flown from New York on Monday, Taiwan's teenage tennis hope Jimmy Wang (
Not a surprising response considering his achievement at the US Open and his narrow escape from from the bedlam that descended on New York after the terrorist blitz Tuesday on the World Trade Center.
The assured 16-year-old had been asked to meet and greet the press after his success at the US Open, where he lost in the boy's singles final to Gilles Muller of Luxembourg, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF IMG
Wang's progress at the event had been a revelation to many in the Taiwan media, who were unaware of the giant strides he was making in the game.
In June this year, Wang made it through to the boy's singles final at the Australian Open and the third round at Wimbledon.
So, it was no surprise to his backers at International Management Group (IMG) when he did so well in New York.
"He now has the experience of playing in finals and it won't be too long before he is winning them," said John Cappo, managing director of IMG Taiwan, in a telephone interview from Shanghai.
"I've promised Jimmy that I'll be there when he wins the US Open," Cappo added. "He's going to be No. 1."
Everyone, it seems, is saying that Wang will be the "next Michael Chang" -- who was the youngest French Open/Grand Slam champion in 1989.
But, Chang is American and Wang is Taiwanese and the first player from this country to have made such a big impression at the majors.
There have been rumors that other countries -- like China, the US and Japan -- have asked Wang to play for them, but he is sticking to his native land.
Speaking to the Taipei Times, Wang said that he was "very proud and excited to be pushing the game in Taiwan."
"This is a first stage [reaching the US Open final] and I am looking forward to the next stage and building on that success," he said.
Responding to questions about his comparatively slight build, Wang said that it had not held up Andy Roddick's progress. "It's not a problem."
The future seems bright for Wang. Nike Taiwan has signed him up and a rapidly developing fan base -- especially among teenage girls -- suggests that he will be one of Taiwan's brightest stars in the years to come, especially if he can deliver a major.
If he does, he will become a unique sporting success, in a country that is starved of sporting role models.
Wang is coached by his father and plans to spend more time on the European and US tennis tours next year.
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