Hyeon Chung and Tommy Paul were meeting for this first time at the US Men's Clay Court Championship in the battle of the NextGens. It was the man from South Korea who came through 5-7, 6-2, 6-2.
Tommy Paul Battles to Take First Set
Both players started the match by holding their serve. In the third game on Paul's serve, Chung raced away to a 15-40 lead. The American saved one break point but on the second, he hit a forehand wide which gave Chung the break. He consolidated and was 3-1 up. Both players continued to hold and with the world number 71 serving to take the opening set, Tommy Paul gritted his teeth and saved two set points 40-15 down.
The 19-year old would find a way to get his third set point at advantage and once again, Paul stopped Chung. The 18-year old from New Jersey would save a fourth set point in the crucial game. Having saved one break, Chung couldn't save another as Tommy Paul broke to get the set back on serve. The world number 200, held his serve and in the upcoming game broke to love with a forehand cross court winner to take the opening set.
Chung Levels
The level from Paul dropped in the second set and the momentum was switched to Chung, who had a break point chance in the opening game, which was saved by Paul who then held. In the third game, Chung did manage to break Paul to love. He held his next service game and went 3-1 up.
The comeback was on and in the seventh game, the South Korean broke again and now had a healthy 5-2 lead. With Chung serving for the set, unlike in the first, he managed to hold and force a decider. Chung dominated and won 67 percent of the points in this set, while Paul won only 33 percent.
South Korean Runs Away with the Third, Books Spot in Quarterfinals
Chung upped his game and continued the momentum from the previous set and broke Paul at the first time of asking. He consolidated and now was 2-0 up in the decider. Both players held their next service game and in the fifth game, the 19-year old made it two for two on break points in the set and now was in a commanding position to close out the match.
At 5-2, Chung raced away to a 40-15 lead and on his first match point, made no mistake and closed out the match to book a quarterfinal spot with America's number one player, John Isner. Chung didn't face a single break point in the last two sets.
Match Stats
Chung served two aces and only one double-fault, while Paul hit three aces and four double-faults. The Korean won 75 percent of first serves, with Tommy Paul winning 74 percent. Chung won 62 percent of points on second serve, while Paul struggled considerably winning only 30 percent. Chung saved one out of three breaks and Paul saved three out of eight. 19-year old Chung converted 63 percent of breaks, while Paul converted 67 percent. Chung won 57 percent of total points and Paul won 43 percent.