Hyeon Chung

Hyeon Chung is a South Korean tennis player, who made the whole world sit up and take notice of his talent by storming to the semifinals of the 2018 Australian Open.

Chung is the first Korean player to reach a Slam semifinal, and also the first Korean to break into the top 20 of the ATP rankings. His solid all-round game has drawn praise from all quarters, and he is widely considered to be one of the most promising young players.

Best finish at each of the four Grand Slams:

Australian Open: Semifinalist (2018)

French Open: 3rd Round (2017)

Wimbledon: 1st Round (2015)

US Open: 2nd Round (2015, 2017, 2018)

Highest Ranking: No. 19

Style of play

Chung's playing style is very similar to that of Novak Djokovic. He prefers to patrol the baseline and move his opponents around the court, using his all-round steadiness to outlast them.

Chung hits off either wing with equal confidence, and imparts plenty of topspin on his shots. He also occasionally follows his groundstrokes to the net, where he is comfortable putting away volleys.

Strengths and weaknesses

Chung is lightning quick around the court, getting to several big shots hit by his opponents. His defense and movement are his biggest strengths, as he can use them to outmaneuver most players.

Chung's forehand is his stronger wing, although his backhand is also very solid. His favorite shot is in fact his backhand, which he can hit both crosscourt and down the line with elan.

Chung's serve is a bit of a liability, as he hits a few too many double faults at inopportune times. The pace on his first serve is also not as high as you'd expect a 6'2" player to produce, and so he doesn't get a lot of free points in most matches.

Personal life

Chung was born in Suwon, South Korea, and his father Seok-Jin was also a tennis player. He took up the sport at the age of six, using it as a means to improve his weak eyesight.

As a teenager Chung attended the IMG Academy in Florida for two years, but then returned to South Korea to continue his training. He even underwent military training for a month when he was 19.

Chung looked up to Novak Djokovic when he was growing up, and that shows in his game. With a steady, defense-based game that's similar to that of his idol, Chung has taken forward the modern tradition of baseline counterpunching.

The Korean gained worldwide popularity after his Australian Open run, winning a lot of fans with his easygoing attitude and cool quotient. It is expected that he will continue to rise up the ranks in the coming years and become a major force to reckon with on the men's tour.

Social media presence:

Hyeon Chung Instagram: @hyeon519

Hyeon Chung Twitter: @HyeonChung