Australian Open 2019: Hyeon Chung fights back from two sets down to beat Bradley Klahn in first round

Melbourne: South Korea’s Hyeon Chung beat Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev en route to a semi-final last year but was within a whisker of failing to get past the Australian Open first round on Tuesday. [caption id=“attachment_5898141” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Hyeon Chung celebrates after winning the match against Bradley Klahn. Reuters/Edgar Su[/caption] Cheered on by massed ranks of Korean supporters on Court 8, the 24th seed mounted an epic fightback from two sets down against American Bradley Klahn to win 6-7 (5), 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. Gritty Chung held both arms aloft and looked to the sky in triumph as he converted on match point after 3hr and 37min and then was swamped by ecstatic fans waving Korean flags and clamouring for autographs as he tried to leave the court. The 22-year-old, who was the 2017 ATP NextGen Finals champion, was forced to retire from his semi-final last year with eventual champion Roger Federer because of injury. Chung will play World No 55 Pierre-Hugues Herbert of France in the second round.