Hyeon Chung Continues Run Into the Australian Open Semis with Win Over Tennys Sandgren
The must-see interview of the #AusOpen.
What a day for Hyeon Chung. pic.twitter.com/3KL9qAmGfQ
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 24, 2018
(January 24, 2018) Hyeon Chung became the first Korean player to ever reach the semifinals of a major when he defeated American Tennys Sandgren 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-3 in the quarterfinals on Wednesday in Rod Laver Arena.
At 21 years old, Chung is also the youngest man to reach the final four of a major since Marin Cilic did it at the Australian Open in 2010.
Chung who is ranked No. 58 will see his ranking rise to 28 next week.
Two months after claiming the title at the Next Gen ATP Finals, he will become the lowest ranked man to play in the final four since Marat Safin was ranked No. 86 in 2004 at the Australian Open.
Chung took out No. 32 Mischa Zverev in the first round, No. 4 seed Alex Zverev in the third round and No. 14 seed and former six-time champion Novak Djokovic in the fourth round.
Asked if he’s surprised about how well he’s done at the tournament, reaching the semifinals, Chung said: “I’m really surprised because I really don’t know. I make semis, I beat like Sascha, Novak, the other good players. I never playing in second week in Grand Slam, so I’m really surprised.”
“Today match was really tough because we play 1:00. We know how to play each other. We play last week in Auckland.
“But I’m just trying to keep focus on the court and enjoy. That’s the key for today.”
In response to his twitter feed, in which he deleted controversial tweets going back two years, Sandgren chastised media in his news conference with a prepared statement before it began:
You seek to put people in these little boxes so that you can order the world in your already assumed preconceived ideas. You strip away any individuality for the sake of demonizing by way of the collective.
With a handful of follows and some likes on Twitter, my fate has been sealed in your minds. To write an edgy story, to create sensationalist coverage, there are a few lengths you wouldn’t go to to mark me as the man you desperately want me to be.
You would rather perpetuate propaganda machines instead of researching information from a host of angles and perspectives while being willing to learn, change, and grow. You dehumanize with pen and paper and turn neighbor against neighbor. In so doing, you may actually find you’re hastening the hell you wish to avoid, the hell we all wish to avoid.
It is my firm belief that the highest value must be placed on the virtue of each individual, regardless of gender, race, religion or sexual orientation. It’s my job to continue on this journey with the goal of becoming the best me I can and to embody the love Christ has for me, for I answer to Him and Him alone.
I’ll take questions about the match, if you guys don’t mind. Thank you. If you have any questions about the match.
Among Sangren’s more controversial tweets included one in which he targeted Serena Williams. Apparently Williams responded to it during his match when she tweeted “Turns channel.”
Sandgren said in an interview with ESPN that he deleted all of his tweets not because it’s “something that I’m really necessary embarrassed about,” “creating a version of a cleaner start is not a bad call.”
Coming into the Australian Open, the American had only 2 main tour wins and was ranked at 97. His quarterfinal run will move his ranking up into the 50’s.
Chung will play defending champion Roger Federer who defeated Tomas Berdych 7-6(1), 6-3, 6-4 in the night match.
