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Australian Open 2018, day eight at Melbourne Park

AN UNKNOWN 21-year-old just knocked out the Open’s greatest champion - and the commentators couldn’t believe their eyes.

Alex Blair and Tyson Otto
13 min read
January 23, 2018 - 7:53AM
Hyeon Chung of of South Korea celebrates his win against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during round four on day eight of the Australian Open tennis tournament, in Melbourne, Monday, January 22, 2018. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY
Hyeon Chung of of South Korea celebrates his win against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during round four on day eight of the Australian Open tennis tournament, in Melbourne, Monday, January 22, 2018. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

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Two stunning upsets from a pair of Australian Open underdogs has seen 2018’s quarterfinal fixture shaken up.

A THRILLING night of upset met viewers on day eight of the Australian Open as two 2018 quarterfinal spots were stolen by a pair of underdogs.

Tennys Sandgren pulled off a massive five set victory over fifth seed Dominic Thiem in a controversial match which saw the former accuse a spectator in his opponent’s box of clapping during his serve. The American star, who had never played a five set match before Monday night, overcame the early squabble to send the Austrian spiralling and secure a spot in the top eight.

Then came Hyeon Chung’s turn to shake things up.

The South Korean star already had an upset under his belt after downing World No. 4 Alexander Zverev in the third round before taking on childhood idol Novak Djokovic, but nobody expected what followed in the fourth round.

The 21-year-old blasted the former World No. 1 out of his Australian Open kingdom in a straight sets masterclass which saw him mirror his opponent’s famous baseline dominiance and come away with a historic victory.

Chung became the first Korean men’s player to reach a grand slam quarterfinal and joined Marat Safin and Roger Federer as one of only three men to down Djokovic in straight sets at Melbourne Park.

ROD LAVER ARENA

11am

(17) Madison Keys (USA) defeated (8) Caroline Garcia (FRA) 6-3 6-2

1pm

(21) Angelique Kerber (GER) defeated Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE) 4-6 7-5 6-2

3pm

(2) Roger Federer (SUI) defeated Marton Fucsovics (HUN) 6-4 7-6 6-2

7pm

Hyeon Chung (KOR) (14) defeated Novak Djokovic (SRB) 7-6 7-5 7-6

(20) Barbora Strycova (CZE) v (6) Karolina Pliskova (CZE) 7-6 3-6 2-6

MARGARET COURT ARENA

11am

(1) Latisha Chan (TPE)/Andrea Sestini Hlavackova (CZE) defeated (14) Hao-Ching Chan (TPE)/Katarina Srebotnik (SLO) 6-3 6-2

(19) Tomas Berdych (CZE) defeated (25) Fabio Fognini (ITA) 6-1 6-4 6-4

Timea Babos (HUN)/Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) defeated Viktorija Golubic (SUI)/Nina Stojanovic (SRB) v (5) 7-5 6-2

5pm

(1) Simona Halep (ROU) defeated Naomi Osaka (JPN) 6-3 6-2

HISENSE ARENA

12.30pm

(1) Lukasz Kubot (POL)/Marcelo Melo (BRA) defeated (16) Rajeev Ram (USA)/Divij Sharan (IND) 3-6 7-6 6-4

Ben McLachlan (JPN)/Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) defeated Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP)/Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) 6-4 7-6

4pm

Tennys Sandgren (USA) defeated (5) Dominic Thiem (AUT) 2-6 6-4 7-6 6-7 6-3

10:35pm

Chung defeats idol in straight sets

Hyeon Chung.
Hyeon Chung.

Hyeon Chung defeated idol Novak Djokovic in straight sets 7-6 7-5 7-6 in a stunning display at Rod Laver Arena.

The 21-year-old, who downed Alexander Zverev in the third round, shocked the king of Melbourne Park with incredible court coverage and a highlights reel of exceptional returns to skittle his opponent.

The former World No. 1 fought through an elbow niggle throughout the match and eventually succumbed to the Korean star in the final tiebreak.

A particularly eye-catching rally from the pair, which saw Chung return a powerful Djokovic forehand to seal three match points, left Jim Courier with his jaw on the floor.

“I cannot believe what I’m seeing,” Courier said. “I cannot believe how good this kid is.”

Chung’s win saw him become the third man alongside Marat Safin and Roger Federer to defeat Djokovic, a six-time Australian Open champion, in straight sets at Melbourne Park.

He also became the first Korean to make a grand slam quarterfinal and will play Tennys Sandgren in the round of eight.

“Congraulations to Chung and his team. Amazing performance,” Djokovic said after the match.

“Whenever he was in trouble he came up with some unbelievable passing shots. From the back of the court he was like a wall.

“He showed no weaknesses and played a great match.”

9:32pm

Battered Djokovic ‘has to work a miracle’

It’s been one of those nights.
It’s been one of those nights.

South Korean prodigy Hyeon Chung took the second set from an injured Novak Djokovic 7-5 and began making moves to silence the Australian Open king in a stunning three set upset.

The 21-year-old capitalised on the 30-year-old’s elbow niggle, which saw him give up on a number of points in the first set.

Chung became the first man in the Australian Open’s blue-court history (2008) to lead Djokovic two sets to love at Melbourne Park.

“This must be almost spooky for Novak, to have someone do to him what he has done to so many for so long. He is hitting shots that you just don’t expect to come back. Look at the quality of that shot... It’s a rifle shot down the line.” Jim Courier observed.

The second set went to a tiebreak as Djokovic fought through the pain.

9:06pm

‘Unbelievable’ Tennys Sandgren upset

Tennys Sandgren has pulled off a win in the fifth set against fifth seeded star Dominic Thiem in the upset of the day.

The American star overcame a massive outburst at the chair umpire over spectators clapping during his serve to take the epic match 2-6 6-4 7-6 6-7 6-3 over the Austrian.

Playing in the first five set match of his career, the 26-year-old became just the second male star to make the round of eight on debut at the Australian Open.

He will play the winner of the Novak Djokovic-Hyeon Chung clash taking place on Rod Laver Arena tonight.

8:47pm

Djokovic battles through the pain

A worrying elbow niggle had Novak Djokovic on the ropes as 21-year-old star Hyeon Chung took control of the second set.

One point in particular saw the former World No. 1 lazily hit a forehand to gift Chung the service game and take a 4-1 lead in the second.

“He’s in clear pain here,” Jim Courier said. “He’s losing his serve ... and that is a tanked forehand. No effort at all to try and win that point.”

7:30pm

Sandgren explodes: ‘That’s ridiculous’

Tennys Sandgren erupted at the chair umpire midway through his clash against Dominic Thiem, accusing someone in the Austrian’s box of clapping while he prepared to serve.

The American was frustrated the umpire didn’t pull up the incident as he fought back from losing the second set 6-4.

“I’m right here to serve. That’s ridiculous. In a player’s box?” he yelled.

“When I say someone in the crowd’s making noise you say ‘I don’t know’. When someone’s doing it to directly inhibit me, ‘Oh, I don’t know. Good luck’. That’s pretty cool.

“There’s one person clapping in a sea of 2000 people. You have no idea where it came from? “You haven’t said anything. Somebody’s done something and you’ve not stopped them from doing it again. That’s what I’m saying. There was no repercussions for doing it on a break point, second serve.

“No repercussions. Nothing happened, nothing happened. Why would he not do it again? He got away with it, no repercussions.”

The 26-year-old fought back from the messy moment to take the third in a tiebreak (7-4) before Thiem returned the favour in the fourth and sent the match to a thrilling fifth set as the clocked ticked past the three hour mark.

7:23pm

Djoker off to a shaky start

Worrying signs for the Melbourne Park king.
Worrying signs for the Melbourne Park king.

Novak Djokovic started his first set against Hyeon Chung in the worst way possible, dropping his first service game to the 21-year-old before serving up four consecutive double-faults to gift a second break opportunity to his opponent in the third game.

The six-time Australian Open champion found himself down 4-0 before the 20 minute mark.

The former World No. 1 fought back to 4-3 but didn’t look his usual dominant self as the unseeded star worked him around the court.

“It is amazing how one question mark - one shot becomes a question mark in a player’s mind and it can infect everything,” Jim Courier said.

“He is fighting a battle on two fronts now. He is fighting his fear of the second serve, and he is fighting a young man who is ready to battle tonight.”

5:36pm

Rog seals it in three

Roger Federer advanced through to the Australian Open quarterfinals for the 14th time with a clinical victory over Marton Fucsovics. The World No. 2 was taken to a tiebreak in the second set but was simply too good for his 25-year-old opponent as he wrapped the match up 6-4 7-6 6-2 in two hours.

Federer’s post-match interview with Jim Courier had Melbourne Park in an uproar as the 19-time major winner realised his wife had departed the stadium before his chat with the Channel Seven commentator.

“So now you are done. It is almost 5:45pm. You will have press conferences, massage and all that stuff but you actually get a night off here. Is that dinner and dancing with Mirka?

What is the game plan for tonight?” Courier asked.

Federer: “(We’ll) probably be busy until about 9pm. We might go out for a nice dinner

if she’s in the mood ... but she has left already so she has other plans!”

Meanwhile, World No. 1 Simona Halep has also advanced into the quarterfinals after a breezy 6-3 6-2 victory over Naomi Osaka following her third round epic against Lauren Davis.

4:53pm

You’ve got to be kidding

Roger Federer, take a bow.

Not many men in the history of tennis would be able to pull off a winner after being fed three smashes in the same rally — but then again not many men are Roger Federer.

The 36-year-old World No. 2 pulled off a piece of magic in the second set against Marton Fucsovics as the pair battled it out in their fourth round clash.

A top-edged return from Federer soared high into the sky before landing in Fucsovics’ end of the court, prompting the Hungarian to smash what looked to be an easy winner into Federer’s left corner.

The Swiss maestro was somehow able to get a hand to it and return the smash and ultimately took the point over the 25-year-old, who hit an unforced error.

Watch the madness below.

4:14pm

Freakish Fed takes the first

It took eight games before Roger Federer could break Marton Fucsovics but by no means is the Swiss maestro off his game today.

Federer pulled off one of the all time great shots against his Hungarian opponent, returning a backhand smash with a cheeky volley played behind his back.

He didn’t win the rally — but it didn’t matter after he broke the 25-year-old in the following game and proceeded to take the set 6-4.

3.20pm

Berdych sends ominous warning

Big Czech Tomas Berdych has advanced to the quarter-finals at the Australian Open for the seventh time in the past eight years with a straight-sets rout of Italian Fabio Fognini.

The 19th-seeded Berdych won 6-1 6-4 6-4 against the No. 25 seed from Italy, who had been bidding to reach the last eight at a major for only the second time in 39 attempts.

Berdych advances to a semi-final showdown against either defending champion Roger Federer or unseeded Hungarian Marton Fucsovics.

3pm

Tennis commentators whacked for ‘vile’ appraisal

Hsieh Su-Wei of Taiwan.
Hsieh Su-Wei of Taiwan.

Veteran tennis commentators Chris Evert and Chris Fowler have been widely panned for

belittling Taiwan star Su-Wei Hsieh during a fourth-round epic against former world No. 1 Angelique Kerber.

Hsieh stunned the No. 21 seed by taking the second set 6-4 and had Kerber running all over Rod Laver Arena with the second set tied at 5-5.

With Kerber the strong pre-match favourite to win through to a quarter-final against Madison Keys, commentators were shocked to see the German star on the edge of elimination during a tough second set.

However, Fowler and Evert have been accused of taking that sense of shock too far in their commentary for ESPN and Eurosport.

Evert, the former World No. 1, and Fowler, a veteran American tennis commentator, left some viewers angry during their dismissive commentary of Hsieh’s tricky playing style.

Fowler reportedly claimed Hsieh’s style of play was relatable to millions of recreational players around the world.

He also reportedly described the world No. 34 as a “tennis club” level player.

However, the most offensive comment came from Evert, who reportedly made fun of Hsieh’s appearance in the fourth round of the Open by saying the Chinese Tapei athlete: “Buys her clothes off the rack”.

The apparent reference to Hsieh’s lack of sponsors, was not received well by tennis commentators.

Kerber eventually found a way past Hsieh, triumphing 4-6 7-5 6-2.

She paid credit to Hsieh after the match for making things incredibly uncomfortable for her on court.

“She played an believable match,” Kerber told Channel 7.

“She was hitting the balls to places very well. I don’t know how. She was running everywhere and always have the answer.

“Very well done how she played and also the last three (matches), we will see a lot in 2018 from her.”

12.30pm

Madison Keys brutalises No. 8 seed

Madison Keys has blasted her way into the Australian Open quarter-finals after smashing No. 8 seed Caroline Garcia off the court.

The power-hitting American raced out to a 4-0 lead in the second set and eventually closed out the match 6-3 6-2 in just over 68 minutes, firing 32 winners on Rod Laver Arena on Monday.

Keys, a semi-finalist at Melbourne Park in 2015 who made the US Open final last year, has yet to drop a set this tournament.

The 22-year-old missed the Australian Open last year after undergoing wrist surgery and said she was relishing being back.

“I am really excited and think I am playing well,” Keys said.

“Especially in tight moments, I’m handling my emotions well.”

Keys, who will face former world No. 1 Angelique Kerber or Su-Wei Hsieh from Taipei in her final 16 showdown, said the injury-enforced break made her realise how much she loved the game.

“It definitely made me realise how much I love it and how much pressure I put on myself,” she said.

“In this last year, I feel like I am playing with no pressure and I’m happy to be back here and not at home in a cast.”

8.45am

Djokovic treated like ‘s***’

Show him some love.
Show him some love.

Former World No. 1 Novak Djokovic has won the Australian Open more than any other male player in history and he’s still been treated “like s***” this year, tennis legend John McEnroe believes.

As the scheduling controversy continues to swirl around Melbourne Park following questions surrounding Roger Federer’s “leverage” over Open officials, McEnroe has declared the No. 14 seed deserves better from the tournament he’s won six times.

Djokovic steps onto Rod Laver Arena on Monday night for just the second time this tournament. It will also be just his second night match.

Djokovic said he was “almost dead” after surviving his match against Gael Monfils where the mercury on court was reportedly recorded at 69C.

In a twist, however, McEnroe reckons the Open could actually be doing Djokovic a favour by forcing him to endure a first week from hell to toughen him up for the second week of the tournament.

“I don’t know what it is about this year’s Australian Open but it seems every day comes with a new controversy,” McEnroe told Eurosport.

“This time, it is the alleged preferential treatment of Roger Federer that has sent the media into a frenzy.

“Fact. Roger Federer asked to play at night. Fact. Roger has played all three of his matches in the cooler night slot on the Rod Laver Arena.

“Fact: Novak Djokovic did not request a specific time slot for his matches. Fact: Novak Djokovic played his first two matches during the day, one of them in the blistering summer sun.

“Just like that we have the choir of journalists and Djokovic fans singing the all too familiar tune “it is not fair.”

“Stop. Fake news alert. The truth is much more simple than that. Scheduling decisions are also business decisions.

“Roger, not Novak, is the golden goose of tennis and he gets to play on the biggest stage in front of the biggest audience whenever he wants.

“Plain and simple. Is it fair? I don’t know and I don’t care. Life isn’t fair.

“I actually think the organisation is doing him a favour by treating him like s***. The guy feeds on adversity.

“I actually think this reversed ‘preferential treatment’ might actually help him.”

Aussie tennis great Pat Cash also told Eurosport Federer has been given an unfair advantage.

“It has caused a bit of controversy actually. It’s one of those tricky things,” Cash said.

“Does Federer get an unfair advantage? Yeah, he probably does, but does he deserve the unfair advantage? Yeah he probably does.

“It has been a bonus to stay out those two stinking hot days.”

8.30am

Kyrgios determined, focused for 2018

A newly-focused Nick Kyrgios left the 2018 Australian Open happy with his overall performance after his fighting four-set loss to Grigor Dimitrov. The No.3 seed resisted a spirited fightback from Kyrgios to end Australia’s singles hopes at Melbourne Park with a 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-4) 4-6 7-6 (7-4) fourth- round win on Sunday night.

Kyrgios was wildly applauded as he left Rod Laver Arena after the intense struggle, in stark contrast to last year’s exit when he was booed off court after his controversial second-round loss to Andreas Seppi.

There were occasional signs of Kyrgios’ fiery temper, but the hard-fought loss was arguably the most mature display under pressure of his career. “I just feel like I’m trying to get better,” Kyrgios said.

“There were periods where I stepped on the court last year where I was just doing it for the sake of doing it.

“I feel a lot better this time around. Last year I really didn’t know what I was going to do after the Australian Open.

“I feel like I have more of a vision and goal for this year. I think I’m in a good head space.” The incredibly tight tussle ended with Dimitrov winning a total of 157 points to Kyrgios’ 156.

The combatants embraced warmly at the net after Dimitrov clinched a quarterfinal berth against Briton Kyle Edmund.

“I just told him to believe in himself,” Kyrgios revealed.

“Sometimes I think he lacks a bit of belief. But I think he’s got the game and he’s proved to everyone that he can win one of these slams.” While Kyrgios’ Australian summer - that included a win in the Brisbane International final - has him bullish about the year head, it seems finding a coach isn’t on the agenda.

“I’ve lost one match this year, so I’m doing all right,” he said. “I like kind of doing things on my own terms. I just like the freedom.” The 22-year-old will take a few days to relax and recover from the Open before heading into camp for Australia’s Davis Cup tie against Germany in Brisbane.

— AAP

Originally published as Australian Open 2018, day eight at Melbourne Park

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/tennis/live-australian-open-2018-day-eight-at-melbourne-park/news-story/0a261c64c9dfad58ee9bd79f4c0c5ec8