Another Loss Stymies Chung's Comeback Quest - UBITENNIS
Connect with us

Latest news

Another Loss Stymies Chung’s Comeback Quest

The 2018 semifinalist crashes out of the Australian Open with a surprise loss to Herbert

Published

on

Hyeon Chung at the 2019 Australian Open (photo Roberto Dell'Olivo)

Twelve months ago, Hyeon Chung probably thought he would be in a much better place at this stage of his still young career. Between the end of 2017 and the beginning of 2018, he enjoyed a stratospheric rise to stardom (especially in his home country of South Korea) by winning the first ATP NextGen Finals in Milan in November and then reaching his first Major semifinal at the 2018 Australian Open after defeating Alexander Zverev and Novak Djokovic.

 

However, his retirement during the semifinal against Roger Federer due to a blister under his foot was the first snag of what would become an injury-plagued season that saw him forced to skip both Roland Garros and Wimbledon. After a 20-8 record in the first four months of the year, he was sidelined for 10 weeks with a leg injury returning to the ATP Tour only at the end of July. He then continued his season playing nine further events (withdrawing from the US Open) with a lackluster 9-9 record ending his campaign with a quarterfinal loss to Fabio Fognini in Stockholm.

After a difficult comeback from two-sets-to-love down in the first round against American Bradley Klahn, Chung fell in the second round to Frenchman Pierre Hugues Herbert 6-2, 1-6, 6-2, 6-4, failing to defend the points from 2018’s semifinal which will see him drop to n.50 in the ATP ranking.

It was a tough day for me – said Chung immediately after his defeat – I tried to focus on my return, but especially in the first set he served really, really well. Then I found my rhythm in the second set, but I have been a bit unlucky with the rain that stopped the match”.

Chung spent the off-season in Bangkok, exactly like in 2018, and played two tournaments to prepare for the Australian Open, losing on the first round on both occasions. “My n.1 priority for this year is to remain healthy since in 2018 I experienced too many ups and downs due to injuries. Then I would like to play better than I did last year: I know it is difficult, but I am trying with my team to make small adjustments to my game. For example, we have changed a bit the starting position of my serve, with my feet a bit further apart. However not all changes work well, so it is always a long process”.

Latest news

Luca Nardi beats Flavio Cobolli but it’s not enough to advance to the semifinals at the Next Gen Finals

Published

on

World number 115 Luca Nardi overcame Flavio Cobolli in an Italian match 3-4 (4-7) 4-2 4-3 (7-1) 1-4 4-3 (7-3) in 2 hours and 14 minutes in the final round robin match of Green Group at the Next Gen Finals at King Abdullah Sports Club in Jeddah. 

 

The win was not enough to earn a semifinal spot for Nardi. Arthur Fils is the first player to qualify for the knock-out stage. The top seeded Frenchman will face Dominic Stricker later today. Stricker needs to win just one set to reach the semifinals. 

Both players went on serve in the first set en route to the tie-break. Cobolli earned two mini-breaks to win the tie-break 7-4. 

Nardi saved two break points in the third game of the second set to take a 2-1 lead. The world number 115 broke serve in the sixth game to close out the second set 4-2. 

Cobolli converted his second break point in the first game of the third set. Nardi pulled back on serve in the sixth game to draw level to 3-3. Nardi opened up a 3-0 lead with two mini-breaks. Cobolli pulled one of the two mini-breaks back for 1-3. Nardi won the final four points with two mini-breaks to claim the tie-break 7-1. 

Nardi clutched his groin when he was serving at 0-1 in the fourth set and called a medical time-out at 0-3. Cobolli earned a break in the second game to close out the fourth set 4-1. 

Cobolli saved two break points to hold serve in the second game. Nardi fended off two break points in the fifth game. Both players held on serve en route to the tie-break. Nardi earned his first mini-break with a backhand flick from out wide to take a 2-1 lead. Cobolli pulled the mini-break back to draw level to 2-2. Nardi closed out the match with a return down the line winner.   

Nardi hit 27 winners to 12 unforced errors. 

“I am happy with the win. Even if I did not qualify, I think today was the best match I played out of the three. I am a bit sad I did not qualify, but I did not want to leave Jeddah without a win. I kept fighting today and I am happy”, said Nardi. 

Continue Reading

Latest news

Hamad Medjedovic moves to 2-0 in Red Group at the Next Gen Finals in Jeddah

Published

on

Hamad Medjedovic edged past Luca Van Assche 4-2 2-4 4-3 (9-7) 4-1 to move to 2-0 In Red Group at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah one day after winning a marathon five-set match against Alex Michelsen. 

 

Medjedovic broke serve in the third game of the opening set to take a 2-1 lead. He held serve and saved two break points in the sixth game to close out the first set 4-2. 

Van Assche saved three break points at 2-2 before breaking serve in the sixth game  with a running forehand pass to seal the second set 4-2. 

Medjedovic earned a break point in the first game of the third set, when Van Assche made a double fault. Van Assche saved them to hold on his serve. Both players held on serve en route to a tie-break. Van Assche raced out to a 5-1 lead. Medjedovic won three consecutive points to claw his way back to 4-5. Van Assche earned three set points at 6-4, 6-5 and 7-6, but Medjedovic won the final three points to win the tie-break 9-7. 

Medjedovic left the court for nine minutes for a bathroom break. 

Medjedovic broke serve in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead. When he was serving out the match, he saved three break points as he closed out the win with two unreturned serves. 

“For sure the tie-break changed a lot of things in this match. He had three set points. I stayed focused on the important points. I was consistent, hitting the ball hard, and I am glad that I won the tie-break”, said Medjedovic. 

Continue Reading

Latest news

Abdullah Shelbayh upsets Alex Michelsen to win his first win at the Next Gen Finals in Jeddah

Published

on

Jordan’s wild card Abdullah Shelbayh beat world number 97 Alex Michelsen 4-2 1-4 4-0 4-0 to clinch his fourth top 100 win. Shelbayh moves to 1-1 in Red Group. 

 

Shelbayh hit 26 winners, including seven aces. The Asian player will face Serbia’s Hamad Medjedovic in his third round robin match. 

Shelbayh earned the first break in the third game of the opening set to take a 2-1 lead. The wild card held his next two service games at 30 to close out the first set 4-2. 

Michelsen, who reached the ATP 250 final in Newport last summer, broke in the second game of the second set to take a 2-0 lead, when Shelbayh made a backhand error. 

Michelsen earned a break point in the first game of the third set, but Shelbayh saved it with an ace. The Jordanan player held serve before breaking serve to close out the third set 4-0. Shelbayh won four consecutive games with two breaks of serve to win the fourth set 4-0. 

“Having the opportunity to play here now to finish here, I could not ask for a better end to the year. I appreciate all the support throughout the week that I have been receiving already, throughout the year and from the Arab world especially. It makes me happy to represent my country. There is some pressure but you feel like it’s good pressure to have on you shoulders when you are representing your country and the region you come from”,said Shelbayh. 

Shelbayh improved his ATP ranking from world 470 to 185. His tennis idol is Rafael Nadal. Shelbayh has trained at the Rafa Nadal for more than five years. Toni Nadal flew to Jordan when Shelbayh was 13 years old to recruit him to train at the Rafa Nadal Academy. He became the first Jordanan player to win a main-draw ATP Tour match last April against Elias Ymer in Banja Luka. 

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending