Djokovic 4-5 Chung* (*next server)
A rare easy service hold for either player. Djokovic claiming a love game to force Chung to serve for the first set.
Djokovic* 3-5 Chung (*next server)
Excellent ball-striking from Chung gets him to 30-15, but a missed backhand has us at 30-30. Big moments coming up here, and Chung holds his nerve superbly to win the next points and dig out the hold. He puts away a couple of awkward volleys and pumps his first in celebration. That's about as much emotion as you're going to get from the very reserved South Korean. Djokovic will serve to stay in the first set.
Djokovic 3-4 Chung* (*next server)
A fifth double fault gives Chung a chance for another break at 15-30. Djokovic takes the next two points, but a sixth double fault allows his opponent back in at deuce. Another game point then comes and goes as Chung chases down a drop volley and flicks away a backhand pass. It's a similar story a couple of points later, with a third game point going begging after Chung brilliantly guides a backhand pass down the line to force a third deuce. Djokovic finally holds at the fourth time of asking when Chung pushes a backhand long. Three games in a row for Djokovic, who's been moving a lot better in the last five minutes or so.
Djokovic* 2-4 Chung (*next server) - Djokovic breaks back
Extraordinary wastefulness from Djokovic. Chung plays three really sloppy points - including a wretched double fault - to gift his opponent three break points at 0-40. Djokovic though makes errors on all three of them, and we're back at deuce. Another break point follows shortly after, but Djokovic misses a simple forehand that beggars belief. Chung is then left a little frustrated after missing two game points for 5-1, and we're at deuce number four. An errant Chung forehand hands Djokovic a fifth break point, and this time he takes it when his opponent drags a forehand wide. That's one of the breaks back.
Djokovic 1-4 Chung* (*next server)
In his desperation to get a game on the board, Djokovic takes a bit of pace off his serve. The tactic seems to work, as the Serb ekes out a much-needed hold to 15 when Chung nets a return.
Djokovic* 0-4 Chung (*next server)
Still Djokovic can't get any rhythm, while Chung is middling the ball on pretty much every shot. The South Korean holds to 30 here with a penetrating forehand that's too powerful for his opponent to handle.
Djokovic 0-3 Chung* (*next server) - Chung breaks
My word, Djokovic begins the game with consecutive double faults, which makes it four in a row across his two service games. He finally gets one in on the next point, but Chung nails a forehand winner up the line for 0-40 and three break points. Djokovic saves the first, but he nets a forehand on the second, and Chung has the double break.
Punishing start from Chung; Djokovic doesn't look like he's moving well at all.
Djokovic* 0-2 Chung (*next server) - Chung saves two break points and holds
Chung just a little tentative on a couple of points. He makes consecutive errors to fall behind 15-30, and a missed forehand then presents Djokovic with a couple of break points at 15-40. Great response from Chung, who saves them with an ace out wide and a brilliant 87mph forehand winner. A service winner and then a brilliant Chung backhand pass wraps up the hold for the South Korean. Brilliant start for Chung.
Djokovic 0-1 Chung* (*next server) - Chung breaks
A couple of lengthy exchanges early on as we expected. Djokovic looks in control of the game at 30-0, but consecutive netted backhands from the Serb have us at 30-30. A double fault then hands Chung a break point at 30-40. And would you believe it? Djokovic double faults for the second time in a row to gift his opponent the break.
Djokovic's new service motion misfiring horribly there.
Ready? Play
Djokovic serving first after Chung chose to receive.
Coin toss
Chung first lets Djokovic call the coin toss, and then when he wins it, the South Korean elects to receive.
Players are out
The bespectacled Chung takes to the court first, followed by the six-time champion Djokovic. Big noise for both players - the crowd are excited for this one.
Head to head
These two have met just once before - at the Australian Open two years ago. Djokovic won that match 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.
Preamble
Morning all,
Welcome to this cross-generational Australian Open fourth round, as the six-time champion Novak Djokovic takes on the South Korean rising star Hyeon Chung. Djokovic has been a fans favourite in Melbourne since winning his first title as a 20-year-old a decade ago, while Chung had only won one main draw match at the tournament until this year.
But all of a sudden Chung, 21, has announced himself on a grand slam stage. The Rod Laver Arena crowd were thrilled by Chung's enterprising performance in knocking out fellow 'Next Genner' Alexander Zverev in five sets on Saturday. The South Korean played utterly fearless tennis, and ended up winning the final set 6-0, losing just five points in the process. It was Chung's first win against a top-10 player, and felt like a milestone moment for the world No 58. The victory also maintained the momentum Chung has been building since winning the inaugural Next Gen ATP Finals in November.
Djokovic of course is a totally different proposition, especially in Melbourne where he has at times exerted a vice-like grip on the Norman Brookes trophy over the last 10 years. There were doubts over the Serb's fitness going into the tournament, but he has been clinical in his first few matches and dropped just one set along the way.
Tactically, this match will pit two players against each other with very similar game styles. Both men like to dominate from the baseline, and shift their opponent off balance with clean, penetrating hitting off both wings. Thus far in the tournament, Chung and Djokovic are first and second for percentage of points won from the back of the court. Chung has won 60.8 per cent of his baseline points, while Djokovic is at 57.3 per cent.
When you consider that the tournament average on the men's side is 46.7 per cent, it gives an idea of just how effective these two are in outmaneuvering their opponents. Certainly the normally imposing Zverev was made to look painfully cumbersome by Chung on Saturday.
Djokovic and Chung's combined baseline proficiency should make for some exciting rallies, and I'm expecting the Serb to get the win in four sets.
Djokovic 4-5 Chung* (*next server)
A rare easy service hold for either player. Djokovic claiming a love game to force Chung to serve for the first set.
Djokovic* 3-5 Chung (*next server)
Excellent ball-striking from Chung gets him to 30-15, but a missed backhand has us at 30-30. Big moments coming up here, and Chung holds his nerve superbly to win the next points and dig out the hold. He puts away a couple of awkward volleys and pumps his first in celebration. That's about as much emotion as you're going to get from the very reserved South Korean. Djokovic will serve to stay in the first set.
Djokovic 3-4 Chung* (*next server)
A fifth double fault gives Chung a chance for another break at 15-30. Djokovic takes the next two points, but a sixth double fault allows his opponent back in at deuce. Another game point then comes and goes as Chung chases down a drop volley and flicks away a backhand pass. It's a similar story a couple of points later, with a third game point going begging after Chung brilliantly guides a backhand pass down the line to force a third deuce. Djokovic finally holds at the fourth time of asking when Chung pushes a backhand long. Three games in a row for Djokovic, who's been moving a lot better in the last five minutes or so.
Djokovic* 2-4 Chung (*next server) - Djokovic breaks back
Extraordinary wastefulness from Djokovic. Chung plays three really sloppy points - including a wretched double fault - to gift his opponent three break points at 0-40. Djokovic though makes errors on all three of them, and we're back at deuce. Another break point follows shortly after, but Djokovic misses a simple forehand that beggars belief. Chung is then left a little frustrated after missing two game points for 5-1, and we're at deuce number four. An errant Chung forehand hands Djokovic a fifth break point, and this time he takes it when his opponent drags a forehand wide. That's one of the breaks back.
Djokovic 1-4 Chung* (*next server)
In his desperation to get a game on the board, Djokovic takes a bit of pace off his serve. The tactic seems to work, as the Serb ekes out a much-needed hold to 15 when Chung nets a return.
Djokovic* 0-4 Chung (*next server)
Still Djokovic can't get any rhythm, while Chung is middling the ball on pretty much every shot. The South Korean holds to 30 here with a penetrating forehand that's too powerful for his opponent to handle.
Djokovic 0-3 Chung* (*next server) - Chung breaks
My word, Djokovic begins the game with consecutive double faults, which makes it four in a row across his two service games. He finally gets one in on the next point, but Chung nails a forehand winner up the line for 0-40 and three break points. Djokovic saves the first, but he nets a forehand on the second, and Chung has the double break.
Punishing start from Chung; Djokovic doesn't look like he's moving well at all.
Djokovic* 0-2 Chung (*next server) - Chung saves two break points and holds
Chung just a little tentative on a couple of points. He makes consecutive errors to fall behind 15-30, and a missed forehand then presents Djokovic with a couple of break points at 15-40. Great response from Chung, who saves them with an ace out wide and a brilliant 87mph forehand winner. A service winner and then a brilliant Chung backhand pass wraps up the hold for the South Korean. Brilliant start for Chung.
Djokovic 0-1 Chung* (*next server) - Chung breaks
A couple of lengthy exchanges early on as we expected. Djokovic looks in control of the game at 30-0, but consecutive netted backhands from the Serb have us at 30-30. A double fault then hands Chung a break point at 30-40. And would you believe it? Djokovic double faults for the second time in a row to gift his opponent the break.
Djokovic's new service motion misfiring horribly there.
Ready? Play
Djokovic serving first after Chung chose to receive.
Coin toss
Chung first lets Djokovic call the coin toss, and then when he wins it, the South Korean elects to receive.
Players are out
The bespectacled Chung takes to the court first, followed by the six-time champion Djokovic. Big noise for both players - the crowd are excited for this one.
Head to head
These two have met just once before - at the Australian Open two years ago. Djokovic won that match 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.
Preamble
Morning all,
Welcome to this cross-generational Australian Open fourth round, as the six-time champion Novak Djokovic takes on the South Korean rising star Hyeon Chung. Djokovic has been a fans favourite in Melbourne since winning his first title as a 20-year-old a decade ago, while Chung had only won one main draw match at the tournament until this year.
But all of a sudden Chung, 21, has announced himself on a grand slam stage. The Rod Laver Arena crowd were thrilled by Chung's enterprising performance in knocking out fellow 'Next Genner' Alexander Zverev in five sets on Saturday. The South Korean played utterly fearless tennis, and ended up winning the final set 6-0, losing just five points in the process. It was Chung's first win against a top-10 player, and felt like a milestone moment for the world No 58. The victory also maintained the momentum Chung has been building since winning the inaugural Next Gen ATP Finals in November.
Djokovic of course is a totally different proposition, especially in Melbourne where he has at times exerted a vice-like grip on the Norman Brookes trophy over the last 10 years. There were doubts over the Serb's fitness going into the tournament, but he has been clinical in his first few matches and dropped just one set along the way.
Tactically, this match will pit two players against each other with very similar game styles. Both men like to dominate from the baseline, and shift their opponent off balance with clean, penetrating hitting off both wings. Thus far in the tournament, Chung and Djokovic are first and second for percentage of points won from the back of the court. Chung has won 60.8 per cent of his baseline points, while Djokovic is at 57.3 per cent.
When you consider that the tournament average on the men's side is 46.7 per cent, it gives an idea of just how effective these two are in outmaneuvering their opponents. Certainly the normally imposing Zverev was made to look painfully cumbersome by Chung on Saturday.
Djokovic and Chung's combined baseline proficiency should make for some exciting rallies, and I'm expecting the Serb to get the win in four sets.