Hyeon Chung defeated Sam Groth 7-6(8), 6-4 in the first round of the Brisbane International on Monday evening. World number 51 Hyeon Chung displayed composure well beyond his age as he ousted the home favorite
Chung Takes Tight Opening Set
The 19-year-old Korean looked to be the better of the two early in the match, but it was not showing on the scoreboard, as Groth battled his way to a 5-2 lead in the first set. After saving a break point in the opening game, the Australian looked as though he had found his service rhythm, as Chung was struggling to make inroads into Groth's booming serve.
However, in the ninth game of the first set, Groth's lack of match practice after a toe operation in late 2015 began to take its toll. He was pushing routine volleys long or wide, as well as hitting regulation ground strokes into the net.
This gave Chung the opportunity that he was looking for to claw his way back into the set and break Groth to get the set back on serve at 5-4. In the Australian's next service game at 5-5, he managed to save three break points and nullify a possessed Chung, who was passing Groth from everywhere on the court.
As the two entered a tense tie break, it was the Australian who looked more at home early, taking advantage of Chung's inexperience and storming out to a 4-0 lead. Chung was able to place pressure on Groth by nullifying the Australian's movement towards the net, as he placed the ball at Groth's feet or hit it at his body to make volleying difficult.
This paid dividends for the young Korean, as he managed to save two set points from 6-4 down and level the tiebreak at 6-all.
He would look the stronger player from then on, as a mentally frustrated Groth was constantly on the back foot, and seemingly unfocussed on the task at hand. Luck also took its toll on the Australian, with Chung passing him at the net thanks to a net chord changing the trajectory of the ball, causing Groth to fall behind 6-7.
To make matters worse, a tournament employee was dealing with some glass bottles as Groth was about to release his second serve at 8-all in the tiebreak. The noise caused Groth to become distracted and double fault, and screaming, "What a Joke!" At the top of his lungs.
Chung won the tiebreak ten points to eight, giving him a mental edge heading into the second set, where he held serve comfortably in the first game to put pressure right back on Groth.
Chung Finishes Off Groth
The second game of the set was a marathon, with the score going to deuce five times before the game was decided. It took Chung five break points to finally clinch the break, and he did it in style, returning the ball brilliantly and reading Groth's serve like a book.
The ATP Players' Most Improved Player of 2015 was producing shots that Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer would have been proud of as he raced out to a 3-0 lead in the set. Groth was beginning to look mentally and physically fatigued throughout the set, he was not comfortable on court and was missing shots that he would normally put away.
However, at 2-4 down in the set, the 28-year-old managed to break the young Korean, as Chung played what former Australian Davis Cup Captain now commentator, John Fitzgerald, described as a 'junior's game'. Chung fought back from 15-40 to level the scores at deuce, but two unforced errors handed Groth a second chance in the set.
The Australian then held his serve in one of his most comfortable games of the night, before Chung had a brilliant service game of his own, producing remarkable winners from defensive positions. At 5-4 in the set, Chung executed his plans perfectly, when Groth came to the net after a serve, the Korean hit the ball at the body or the feet in order to make the following volley more difficult.
Even when Groth was able to return the volley, Chung's prowess and passing ability was not to be denied as he broke the Australian and claimed victory with a running cross court forehand pass to begin his season in the perfect way.
In his on court interview, his modest words earned him many friends in the crowd, "I tried to focus on every point and managed to play a few good points here and there." He played a lot more than 'a few' good points and was able to nullify Groth's two biggest weapons, his serve and his volleying. The Australian only won 75 percent of his first serve points, and a measly 31% on his second serve.
Chung, on the other hand, won 73 percent of first serve points and a whopping 56% of second serve points thanks to his clean ball striking and shot making.
He goes on to face former U.S. Open Champion, Marin Cilic, in the second round, while Groth will need to rethink his approach heading into the Australian Open.