SINGAPORE: Singapore's top men's singles player, Derek Wong, is eligible to play in the first round of the OUE Singapore Open for the first time on April 8.
Derek Wong who is supposed to play in the qualifiers originally, replaces world number three Kenichi Tago from Japan who withdrew from the tournament.
Kenichi's withdrawals gave Wong an automatic spot in the first round.
"Everybody has equal opportunity to make it at this level, all opponents in the main draw are equally difficult to play against, I have 50 – 50 chance to make it to the second round. Since I already in the first round and I will try my best to make it to the second round."
Derek Wong made it to the first round at All England this year, before narrowly losing to a top-20 opponent.