Daniell’s Open run comes to an end

Kiwi doubles player Marcus Daniell bowed out in a thrilling quarterfinal at the Australian Open in Melbourne yesterday.

Daniell and his British partner Dominic Inglot were beaten in three sets 6-4, 6-7 (12-10) 7-6 (7-4) in a match lasting 2hr 40min by the inform seventh seed Austrian Croatian combination of Oliver Marach and Mate Pavic.

Meanwhile, Hyeon Chung is the first Korean to reach a grand slam semifinal after continuing his spectacular run at Melbourne Park.

The 21-year-old world No 58 outclassed unseeded American Tennys Sandgren 6-4 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 yesterday to also become the lowest-ranked man to make the last four of the Open since Marat Safin in 2004.

Chung will play second-seeded titleholder and five-time champion Roger Federer or Czech Tomas Berdych tomorrow night for a most improbable berth in the final.

‘‘Whoever win, I’m playing. I don’t care,’’ a jubilant Chung said.

Backing up from his stylish straight-sets victory over six-time winner Novak Djokovic, Chung showed no signs of a psychological letdown as he broke Sandgren four times on Rod Laver Arena to storm into the last four in two hours and 28 minutes.

Triumphant at the 2017 NextGen Finals in Milan, Chung has carried his blazing form to Melbourne, adding Sandgren to his growing list of scalps this fortnight .

At 21 and 254 days, Chung is also the youngest men’s grand slam semifinalist since Marin Cilic at the 2010 Australian Open. The South Korean could meet the Croat in this year’s final.

While Chung marches on, Sandgren can console himself with a cheque for A$440,000 and a surge from 97th in the rankings to the world’s top 60. The unfancied American had never won a match at the majors, failing on 13 previous occasions to qualify for a grand slam.

The 26-year-old gallantly fought off five match points. He finally relented after a thrilling nine-point game that featured one epic 31-point rally.

❚ Nadal bitter P18