Chung sets up semi-final date with Federer
Chung Hyeon's trailblazing run through the Australian Open continued yesterday, as the relentless South Korean tossed American Tennys Sandgren aside 6-4, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 to become his nation's first Grand Slam semi-finalist.
Bespectacled like Clark Kent but playing like Superman at a sunbathed Rod Laver Arena, world No. 58 Chung became the lowest-ranked player into the last four at Melbourne Park since Marat Safin in 2004.
The 21-year-old, who will face Roger Federer tomorrow, has also become the youngest men's Grand Slam semi-finalist for eight years.
As in his fourth-round elimination of six-time champion Novak Djokovic, Chung had all the answers against world No. 97 Sandgren, returning virtually everything the battling American could throw at him.
A near-perfect display finished with a wobble when serving out the match, as he squandered a 40-0 lead and saw a total of five match-points evaporate.
He later admitted to thinking prematurely about victory.
"In the last game, many things come together. If I win one more point, I make history in Korea," he said.
"Something, I (was) thinking like that. I have to think about the ceremony. Anyway, I had to stay calm because... The match was not finished yet."
Chung's raw power ultimately prevailed, a blazing forehand into the corner causing a scrambling Sandgren to push his desperate retrieve well past the baseline.
He flashed a broad grin as South Koreans draped in flags roared in the terraces. - REUTERS
YESTERDAY’S RESULTS
WOMEN’S SINGLES, Q-FINALS
- Angelique Kerber (x21) bt Madison Keys (x17) 6-1, 6-2
- Simona Halep (x1) bt Karolina Pliskova (x6) 6-3, 6-2
MEN’S SINGLES, Q-FINALS
- Chung Hyeon bt Tennys Sandgren 6-4, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3
- Roger Federer (x2) bt Tomas Berdych (x19) 7-6 (7/1), 6-3, 6-4
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS
WOMEN’S SINGLES, S-FINALS
- Elise Mertens v Caroline Wozniacki (x2)
- Simona Halep (x1) v Angelique Kerber (x21)
MEN’S SINGLES, S-FINAL
- Marin Cilic (x6) v Kyle Edmund
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