Chung Hyeon dumped six-time champion Novak Djokovic out of the Australian Open on Monday in a sensational fourth round upset to become the first Korean — man or woman — to reach the quarter-finals at a Grand Slam.
The 21-year-old beat the battle-weary Serb, who was clearly in pain and struggled on serve, 7-6 (4), 7-5, 7-6 (3) in 3hr 21 min in a night match on Rod Laver Arena.
Chung will face American bolter Tennys Sandgren in the last-eight on Wednesday.
Two years ago Djokovic outclassed Chung in straight sets in the opening round of the Australian Open, but the South Korean spectacularly reversed the result with three hard-fought sets against the wounded Serb in the fourth round.
“When I was young I just tried to copy Novak (Djokovic) because he was my idol.”
– Hyeon #Chung š#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/zeyAjA6Rx0
ā #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 22, 2018
Djokovic, who sought treatment for his troublesome right elbow and an apparent hip injury when stretching for a ball, battled through in great discomfort, as Chung stayed composed and mentally tough to claim his biggest win.
“I didn’t know if I was going to win this match tonight, but I was just honoured to play with Novak again and happy to see him on the tour,” said Chung, who won the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan last November.
“When I was young I was trying to copy Novak because he’s my idol. I can’t believe this, dreams come true tonight.”
Djokovic showed the effects of playing four rounds in his first tournament back after six months out since Wimbledon with elbow trouble.
He made a horror start to the match with two double faults in each of his two opening service games for a double break.
The six-time Melbourne winner clawed back to 5-5, but he called for the trainer to treat his right elbow early in the second set.
It got worse for the Serb former world No. 1 as he screamed in agony stretching for a point, but he gingerly carried on with the signs of wear and tear plainly visible.
Djokovic attempted to shorten the points and avoid long tiring rallies given his battle-weary condition as Chung continued to pull ahead.
He dropped serve to start the third set but Djokovic gave the serve straight back and the South Korean got another break to go ahead 3-1.
But Djokovic bravely dug in and again broke back and took the set to a tiebreaker where Chung won some outstanding points to hold three match points.
Djokovic’s resistance was finally over when he sent a backhand wide.
