Djokovic bows out at Australian Open
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Six-time champion Novak Djokovic was stunned in straight sets by Hyeon Chung not long after Tennys Sandgren upset No. 5 Dominic Thiem at the Australian Open.
The season-opening major often throws up unexpected results, but the back-to-back upsets Monday resulted in a longshot of a quarterfinal: Chung, the first Korean to reach the last eight at a Grand Slam, vs. 97th-ranked Sandgren, who had never won a match at a major or beaten a top-10 player until last week.
The 58th-ranked Chung relentlessly attacked Djokovic — who was playing his first tournament since Wimbledon because of an injured right elbow — in the 7-6 (4), 7-5, 7-6 (3) fourth-round win.
Chung ripped 47 winners, including a forehand on the slide and at full stretch on the baseline that put him within two points of victory.
Chung credited the usually athletic Djokovic, who needed a medical timeout in the second set for a massage on his sore elbow, for the inspiration.
“When I’m young, I’m just trying to copy Novak because he’s my idol,” Chung said. “I can’t believe this tonight. Dreams come true tonight.”
Djokovic, who winced and grimaced throughout the match — particularly when stretching for backhands, said he’d need to reassess the treatment for his elbow. But he said he didn’t want his injuries to detract from Chung’s win
“Amazing performance,” Djokovic said. “Impressive. Whenever he was in trouble, he came up with some unbelievable shots. Just from the back of the court, you know, he was like a wall.”
Ottawa’s Gabriela Dabrowski and Yifan Xu of China advanced to the fourth round in women’s doubles, beating Japan’s Shuko Aoyama and Zhaoxuan Yang of China 7-6 (6), 6-1.
The 26-year-old Sandgren missed on match point in the fourth set but prevailed 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (7), 6-3 over Thiem. It followed up his earlier victory over 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka.
Defending champion Roger Federer had no real difficulties in reaching the Australian Open quarterfinals for the 14th time by downing Marton Fucsovics 6-4, 7-6 (3), 6-2.
The 19-time major winner will next renew a lengthy rivalry against Tomas Berdych, who returns to the quarterfinals for the seventh time at Melbourne Park.