Hong Kong and Finland have split the first day of their Davis Cup tie, leaving the weekend's outcome hanging in the balance. The two teams are competing in a World Group I play-off at Victoria Park Tennis Stadium.

The opening rubber saw Finland's Otto Virtanen, ranked No. 126 in the world, dominate Hong Kong's Nicholas Cheng Siu-chi. Virtanen dismantled Cheng in a swift 42 minutes with a 6-0, 6-1 victory. Cheng, who is the top-ranked junior player from Hong Kong, admitted to feeling "so tight for the whole match". He also acknowledged the pressure of performing in front of a home crowd.

However, Hong Kong leveled the score thanks to a strong performance from their top player, Coleman Wong Chak-lam. The 21-year-old Wong, currently ranked 132nd in the world, defeated Finland's Eero Vasa (ranked No. 476) in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2. Wong's victory came in just 58 minutes. After his match, Wong said he was "feeling great and ready for tomorrow," as he is scheduled to play two matches on Sunday.

Despite Cheng's earlier defeat, Hong Kong captain Yu Hiu-tung plans to keep the 17-year-old in the lineup. Cheng is expected to team up with Wong for the doubles match and play the final singles rubber on Sunday. Yu stated that the results aligned with their expectations, recognizing the challenge Cheng faced against a higher-ranked opponent. Yu believes Cheng needs time to adjust to the increased quality, pace, and the atmosphere of the crowd.

Wong had previously stated that Hong Kong should not be considered underdogs despite facing the top-seeded Finland. He emphasized the advantage of playing on home ground. Wong had also highlighted Otto Virtanen as a key opponent, having lost to him in the past. He expressed his hope for a different outcome on the hard court of Victoria Park Tennis Stadium.

The Davis Cup tie continues on Sunday with potentially decisive matches. The winner of the play-off will advance to the World Group I level.