Gafencu gets up close and personal with John Hui. Hong Kong’s top-ranked tennis player is now growing into his new role as owner and managing director of The Fleming – a revitalised boutique hotel in the heart of Wan Chai.
Let’s start at the beginning – when did you start playing tennis professionally?
I was 15 when my parents approached me and asked, ‘Do you want to quit school and play full-time?’ Back then I was already on the junior circuit, but being a typical teenager, I thought, ‘No school? Hell yeah!’
Reality didn’t quite match the fantasy, though. For a year, I travelled all over with my coach; I didn’t really get to experience teenage life. After that, I continued to play but was also homeschooled.
Instead of turning pro in my teens, I went to college for four years at Pepperdine University in California. They have an incredibly rich history in tennis and my coach there was excellent. He’s still coaching today and is probably one of the most successful instructors at the collegiate level.
At 20, I decided to take the plunge and competed for four years. I loved it and have no regrets. I’d started when I was 12 and didn’t stop until 24. After I went pro, I’d train for four to seven hours per day including off-court work. It was extremely tough, both mentally and physically.
You are the most successful Hong Konger yet to compete in pro tennis – attaining an overall ATP ranking of 157 at the age of 24. How did you achieve this feat?
I discovered my passion when I was very young. Obviously, you have to love the sport. I lived for tennis and put my blood, sweat and tears into it. Like any sport, if you don’t have the passion for it you’re not going to be any good. You have to have the hunger. A solid foundation and the desire to improve are essential.
Good guidance is also key. When I went to Pepperdine I was lucky enough to have not one, but two world-class coaches who influenced my decision to turn pro.
Was there a particular catalyst for your decision to shift career paths from professional sports to the hospitality industry?
Eventually I got to a point in my career when I had to decide whether to continue playing for the next decade or switch professions. I believed I had done quite well in tennis, having achieved a certain ranking, so I decided to retire from the sport, return to Hong Kong, get married and pursue hotel management.
What made the redevelopment of The Fleming hotel such a special project?
For a long time, my family operated the property as a serviced apartment. I convinced them to convert it into a hotel in order to capitalise on our proximity to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. ‘Fleming 1.0’ was focused on business travellers.
For the current iteration, I wanted to develop a hotel property that stayed true to Hong Kong. We didn’t want to take those New York and LA properties and shoehorn them into a completely different city.
Why did you choose to partner with Max Dautresme for the re-launch of The Fleming?
We met several overseas and local designers but felt a strong connection with Max. He designed restaurants that I’d always enjoyed going to like Bibo and The Ocean. Max is a passionate designer and – this being his first hotel – he was as excited about this project as we were.
You’ve said that your goal is to launch a hotel that authentically represents Hong Kong. How has that been achieved?
When you arrive, right from the get-go, it’s unmistakably a Hong Kong hotel. In the concierge area, you’ll notice a narrow twisting passageway that’s reminiscent of back alleys in Kowloon. In reception, you’ll see bamboo walls and post boxes that hark back to old Hong Kong. Our rooms follow the dimensions of ferry cabins; even small things like the umbrellas were designed to resemble Chinese oil parasols. Much of the furniture throughout the hotel is reversible, much like the seating on the Star Ferry!
You’ve known your wife, Jacklyn Fu, since the age of 12. How have you two managed to maintain such a long and successful relationship?
We used to play tennis together in Hong Kong. When we were 16, we won two of the big local competitions as partners in the mixed doubles category. There are many ups and downs in marriage – you have to be able to give and take. It’s not always easy raising three fast-growing kids, so it’s important to help one another.
Do any of your children have a talent for tennis?
Well, my eldest son is on the national tennis squad for Hong Kong, and my youngest was on the national team for wushu. I play casually with them but that’s about it – it’s extremely hard to coach your own children. I read an article recently about Bjorn Borg. He never even watched his son play tennis! As for my daughter, she loves gymnastics and dance. Each one of them has diverse hobbies, which is great.
Thank you.
Text: Randalph Lai