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The Australian Open will lose one of its giant killers when South Korean Hyeon Chung meets American Tennys Sandgren in an unlikely quarter-final showdown at the Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday. Chung subjected his boyhood idol to arguably the biggest upset of the year’s first Grand Slam when he prevailed 7-6(4), 7-5, 7-6(3) over six-time champion Novak Djokovic, who was out-gunned by a younger and fitter version of himself on Monday. The bespectacled 21-year-old’s fairytale win made him the first South Korean to reach a grand slam quarter-final, not a mean achievement for someone who took up tennis because doctors said it would improve his failing eyesight. Chung was not sure if he should consider himself lucky to face world number 97 Sandgren, whom he beat in their only previous meeting in Auckland earlier this month. “Maybe yes, maybe not, because he beat every good player. I‘m just focused for tomorrow,” he said after beating Djokovic. Chung is naturally cautious about taking on the American journeyman who, like the Korean, finds himself in unknown territory after overcoming fifth seed Dominic Thiem in a five-set thriller on Monday. Sandgren failed to win a match in his two previous main draw appearances at grand slams before arriving at Melbourne Park and he attributes the turnaround to his round of 32 defeat to Chung in Auckland. “I think a big deal was playing Chung in Auckland,” said the Tennessee native, only the second debutant to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals in 20 years. ”I think that helped me a lot going into this week, seeing I could play a good level. “Being able to play a good level like that made me feel like, okay, maybe I can do it in three-out-of-five sets, on a bigger stage, against other players, too, maybe not just one time, maybe I am somewhere around there.” In the nightcap, defending champion Roger Federer will take on Tomas Berdych in a quarter-final rematch of last year’s third round contest, which the Swiss maestro won in straight sets. “I‘m looking forward to playing him. He seems in good shape, and I‘m happy he’s over his back issues that he also had at the end of last year. That’s a good thing,” Federer said. The women’s quarter-finals in the top half of the draw on Tuesday see top-seeded Simona Halep against Karolina Pliskova and Angelique Kerber vs US Open runner-up Madison Keys. Kerber is on a 13-match winning streak while 17th-seeded Keys beat No 8 Caroline Garcia in the fourth round. Keys has only won one of seven matches against Kerber, and five of the six losses were in straights set. “I think she has an ability to cover the court and anticipate like really no one else does,” Keys said of Kerber. “So for me, it’s having to play aggressive.”. With inputs from agencies
Australian Open 2018, quarter-finals, highlights: Roger Federer beats Tomas Berdych; Simona Halep wins in straight sets
Follow our live blog for live scores and updates from all the matches at Australian Open 2018. Angelique Kerber, Simona Halep and Roger Federer are among the players in action on Day 10.
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And that’s a wrap for today! Thank you so much for following along.
The women’s semi-finals start tomorrow at 8.30 am IST.
Do tune in for the rest of the matches as well.
Here are all the results from Day 10 of the Australian Open:
Women’s singles quarter-finals
Angelique Kerber (GER x21) bt Madison Keys (USA x17) 6-1, 6-2
Simona Halep (ROM x1) bt Karolina Pliskova (CZE x6) 6-3, 6-2
Men’s singles quarter-finals
Chung Hyeon (KOR) bt Tennys Sandgren (USA) 6-4, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3
Roger Federer (SUI x2) bt Tomas Berdych (CZE x19) 7-6 (7/1), 6-3, 6-4
Two players from the Next Gen — 23-year-old Kyle Edmund and 21-year-old Hyeon Chung will look to beat the old guard — Marin Cilic and Roger Federer in the semi-finals.
Take a look at the final stats from Federer’s win.
Federer’s on-court interview after his win is worth a watch!
Roger Federer is through to his 43rd Grand Slam semi-final.
Roger Federer is through to his 14th Australian Open semi-final with a 7-6(1), 6-3, 6-4 win over Tomas Berdych.
Federer faces 21-year-old Hyeon Chung in the last-four.
Federer serving at 5-4 for the match.
He comes up with three brilliant serves and surges to 40-0.
THREE MATCH POINTS FOR THE SWISS.
He finishes it with another great serve that Berdych can’t return.
Federer wins the third set 6-4 in 43 minutes.
After holding for 5-3, Federer stretches Berdych on his service game.
However, the Czech manages to avoid getting broken and plays a perfect volley on the run at 40-30.
It’s 5-4 and Federer will now serve for a place in the last-four.
Easy service hold from Berdych and he makes it 3-4.
The Czech really need to hold there and he does that quite comfortably. Can he find a way to break Federer’s serve?
Federer holds at love and now he’s just two games away from the semi-final. 4-2.
It’s a long way back for Berdych at the moment.
Federer breaks again for 3-2
Federer pulls off an exquisite drop shot with his feathery touch and pulls off another break of serve.
Three straight breaks in this 3rd set.
Can Federer consolidate now?
Berdych breaks back immediately!
Federer shanks a backhand and Berdych has two BREAK POINTS!
Federer tries to serve and volley but Berdych hit an excellent return that completely caught the Swiss unawares. Berdych is back in this set at 2-2.
Loose game from Federer but Berdych was ready to pounce on the opportunity.
Federer breaks for 2-1.
After two easy holds at the start of the 3rd set, Federer brings up DEUCE on Berdych’s serve.
An unforced error from Federer and it’s ADVANTAGE for Berdych.
Federer takes control of the next point in a punishing rally and wins it with a smash into the open court. DEUCE.
We have another long rally and Federer stops the point in the middle to challenge a Berdych return that he believed was long. Hawk-Eye proves him right and it’s BREAK POINT.
Federer puts Berdych under pressure again and the Czech succumbs — he sends his forehand flying out and Federer secures the break. 1-2.
Time to look at the numbers from the second set!
Injury trouble for Berdych?
After dropping the first two sets, the Czech has gone off-court for an evaluation and takes a medical timeout.
Roger Federer leads 7-6(1), 6-3 after 1 hour and 35 minutes.
The second seed needs one set more to reach the last-four.
Federer serves out his game with ease and clinches the second set 6-3.
Federer breaks for 5-3.
Federer gets to 15-30 on Berdych’s serve with a stunning backhand down the line winner. He built the point perfectly by slicing the ball till he opened up the court and went for the winner.
Federer attacks the Berdych serve early and gets an error from the Czech. Two break points. 15-40.
Berdych comes forward in a long rally but he hits a terrible half volley and Federer is all over it. He breaks with another passing shot. 3-5.
Federer will now serve for a 2-0 lead in this match.
Second set hangs in the balance. Very crucial service games coming up as we get to the pointy end of this set.
Federer holds for 4-3. Interesting few games coming up.
Federer fires an ace down the middle on his first point but then muffs a routine volley at the net. 15-15.
Berdych dictates a rally with his forehand and then comes in to volley the point home. 15-30. Small window of opportunity for the Czech.
Federer comes up with the traditional 1-2 — great serve followed by a forehand winner — to make it 30-all.
Two aces from Federer helps him hold in the seventh game of the second set.
No breaks of serve yet in the second set.
No trouble on either player’s service games and we arrive at 3-3 in the second set.
Here’s another stat:
Federer has never lost a quarter-final match in Melbourne (13-0).
Federer saves one break point and holds for 2-1.
That game had some beautiful winners from Federer, including a cross-court passing shot that whizzed past Berdych.
Two easy holds from both players to start the second set. 1-1.
Here’s an interesting stat: Winner of the 1st set has won 20 of the 25 meetings between Federer and Berdych (8 of 9 at Grand Slams)
Take a look at the stats from the first set, especially that winners’ column
That was some turnaround from the defending champion!
Roger Federer saves two set points and fights back from 2-5 down to win the first set 7-6(1).
The defending champion took an hour to take a 1-0 lead in the quarter-final.
Federer wins the tie-break 7-1.
Federer gets the first mini-break with a blistering passing shot that lands bang on the baseline.
He holds the next two points on his serve for 3-0.
Federer tries to pass Berdych at the net with his backhand again but he couldn’t get his return over the net. 3-1.
Double mini-break for Federer after he pushes his opponent into the corner with his forehand. 4-1.
An error from Berdych this time as he nets an easy backhand and it’s 5-1.
Berdych challenges a Federer serve out wide and Hawk-Eye shows it was out. But Federer wins the point after a long rally where they exchange backhand slices. 6-1.
Federer wins the set with a sweet drop shot.
Federer saves a set point and forces a tie-break in the opening set.
A double fault from Federer’s racquet and it’s 30-15.
Federer overcooks his forehand and it’s 30-30.
A second double fault in the game from Federer and it’s SET POINT for Berdych.
Federer saves the break point with a controlled rally and it’s DEUCE.
Two good serves later, Federer gets out of a tough service game. We are going to a tie-break.
Berdych holds to love as well and Federer will once again need to serve to stay in the set. 6-5.
Can Federer take this to a tie-break?
Take a look at that!
Federer holds at love for 5-5.
At 40-0, Federer plays the most delicate drop shot that Berdych had no chance of reaching. All square in this opening set.
Federer was not happy with the chair umpire. After he had that little argument, his level of play visibly picked up.
Federer breaks back for 5-4.
Berdych attempts to string a backhand pass down the line but it catches the net. 0-15.
His second serve was called out and it would have been a double fault but Berdych challenges it and Hawk-Eye shows his serve caught the line by the tiniest margins. He gets another first serve and wins the point. 15-15.
Federer patiently slices his way in the next two points and waits for Berdych to commit the errors. Under the constant pressure, the Czech obliges and Federer has two BREAK POINTS.
Brilliant serve from Berych down the middle – Federer challenges it but there’s drama! No Hawk-Eye available for the point. Federer understandably pissed with the chair umpire when he docks a challenge off Federer and he has none remaining. Meanwhile, Berdych saves both the break points for DEUCE.
Federer produces an exquisite inside-out forehand and sets up another chance to break.
Berdych attempts to volley at the net, the ball crawls over the net and falls on the other side. DEUCE.
Ace from Berdych and it’s SET POINT.
Federer dispatches the set point with a backhand down the line return winner. DEUCE AGAIN.
BREAK POINT #4 for Federer after he pushes Berdych from one end of the court to another and wins the rally at the net.
He converts on his fourth chance with a forehand winner. It’s back on serve in the first set at 5-4.
Federer holds for 3-5.
Federer sends hid forehand just wide on the first point of his game but follows it up with a backhand cross court winner. 15-15.
Ace out wide hit ar 177 kmph makes it 30-15.
Another brilliant serve brings up game point. Federer holds after Berdych tries to lob but ends up hitting it in the doubles lane.
Berdych will now try to serve the set out.
Berdych looks extremely sharp in the opening set and holds at love for a 5-2 lead.
He is just one game away from clinching the opener.
Berdych has been excellent all tournament and has played impressive tennis in his first four rounds.
First round: beat Alex De Minaur 6-3, 3-6, 6-0, 6-1
Second round: beat Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-3, 2-6, 6-2, 6-3
Third Round: beat Juan Martin del Potro 6-3, 6-3, 6-2
Fourth Round: beat Fabio Fognini (Italy) 6-1, 6-4, 6-4
Berdych dropped two sets in his first two rounds but since then it has been smooth sailing for him.
Federer double faults on his serve but he still manages to get an easy hold for 4-2.
It’s still early days but this has been a messy start from Federer.