South Korean Chung Hyeon is having a dream run at the Australian Open. The 21-year-old has now qualified for the semifinals after defeating United States’ Tennys Sandgren.
Earlier this week, he took the tennis world by storm when he took down six-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic in straight sets to reach the quarterfinals of the tournament.
Not many people had even heard of him before his famous win, let alone thought he was capable of upsetting one of the game’s legends. The 21-year old from Suwon in South Korea has won only one title till date.
Let’s take a look at some of the interesting facts about Asia’s newest tennis sensation.
1. The Professor
Chung, who sports prescription eyeglasses during the matches, has been nicknamed ‘the professor’ due to his on-court appearance. He had to wear glasses from a very young age. In fact, he took up tennis to maintain his eyesight.
2. Started Very Young
The 21-year-old started playing tennis at six. After he won the Eddie Herr International and Junior Orange Bowl Boys under-12 titles in December 2008, he was signed by the Nick Bollettieri Academy in Florida, where he spent two years. He began competing on the ITF junior tour in 2012 and was runner-up in the 2013 Wimbledon Boys' Singles.
3. Tennis: A Family Tradition
Chung’s father, Seok-Jin, who used to play tennis, has now become a coach. His elder brother is also a professional tennis player.
4. The Prodigy
At 21, Chung is the youngest to reach the last four at a grand slam since Marin Cilic did it in the 2010 Australian Open. The world number 58 is also the lowest-ranked man to reach the Australian Open semifinals since Marat Safin in 2004. He was voted ATP’s Most Improved Player of the Year in 2015 after climbing 122 places in the world rankings.
5. Making South Korea Proud
Chung has now become the first South Korean player to enter the semifinals of a grand slam. After Djokovic in the quarters, Chung defeated American Tennys Sandgren to cruise into the semifinals. The previous best results by Koreans at any grand slam were Hyung Taik Lee and Duk Hee Lee, who reached the last 16 at the US Open men’s singles in 2000 and 2007, and the women’s singles at the 1981 US Open respectively.
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