The Associated Press
MELBOURNE, Australia–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 earlier today resulted in a longshot of a quarter-final: 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, 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.
He ripped 47 winners, including a forehand on the slide and at full stretch on the baseline that put him within two points of victory.
Djokovic, who winced and grimaced throughout the match, particularly when stretching for backhands, said he would need to reassess the treatment for his elbow.
But he said he didn’t want his injuries to detract from Chung’s win
“Amazing. Amazing performance,” Djokovic said. “Impressive.
“Whenever he was in trouble, he came up with some unbelievable shots.”
The 26-year-old Sandgren, meanwhile, missed a match point in the fourth set but held on for a 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (7), 6-3 win over Thiem.
It followed up his earlier victory over 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka.
Sandgren is only the second man in 20 years to reach the quarter-finals on his debut at Melbourne Park.
Defending champ Roger Federer had no real difficulties in reaching the Australian Open quarter-finals for the 14th time, dispatching Marton Fucsovics 6-4, 7-6 (3), 6-2.
Federer will renew a lengthy rivalry next against Tomas Berdych, who returned to the quarter-finals for the seventh time at Melbourne Park with a 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 win over Fabio Fognini.
Angelique Kerber, the only Grand Slam singles winner remaining in the women’s draw, was up earlier–and got a serious wake-up call.
For a while it appeared Kerber’s progression could unravel against No. 88 Hsieh Su-wei, a former top-ranked doubles player with a double-handed grip on both sides, until she regained momentum for a 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 win.
That earned Kerber a quarter-final spot against U.S. Open finalist Madison Keys.
Keys returned to the quarter-finals here for the first time in three years with a 6-3, 6-2 win over No. 8-seeded Caroline Garcia.
Top-seeded Simona Halep, who had to rally from triple match point down to advance through the third round, beat Naomi Osaka 6-3, 6-2.
