▲ Chung Hyeon in the round 16

Korea was not famous for tennis. Not only there were no amazing sports stars related to tennis, but also the attention of the citizens and nation was not sufficient. The former high-ranked player in Korea, Lee Hyung Taik, was only 36th all over the world in his career. However, that record has been replaced by a 21-year-old tennis player, Chung Hyeon. This is considered to change the aspect of Korean tennis industry.

▲ Chung Hyeon`s victory in quarterfinal

Chung Hyeon gained the attention of the world by participating semifinals in Austrailian Open, which is one of the 4 Grandslams of tennis. By the time he has advanced to the quarterfinal, he broke the Korean record of Australian Open, which was originally round of 16. This was meant to both Korean citizens and Chung Hyeon himself, considering the fact that Korean tennis player beat Novak Djokovic, who was considered as the front-runner of the contest and Chung Hyeon’s personal role model. He then won a complete victory in the quarterfinal against the American tennis player, Tennys Sandgren. Unfortunately, in the game with Roger Federer, who was considered as another front-runner of the contest, he had to resign due to his serious injury on his foot.

▲ Chung Hyeon in the semifinal

Even though his running was stopped by Roger Federer, who finally became the champion of men’s single, his unbelievable achievement as an athlete deeply moved Korean citizens. Tennis was considered as the sport for riches in Korea, but this stereotype is assumed to be removed since his achievement will trigger normal citizens to participate and try learning tennis. Some experts even prospect the this will be a chance for Korea to develop tennis industry and raise many prospects like they did in the figure skating industry when Kim Yuna ranked the first place in the Olympic.

Considering that Chung Hyeon is only 21 years old although he got injured, and Korean tennis industry might develop, it is now assumed that the status of Korean tennis will improve in the international world. I hope that tennis can work as a great daily tonic for normal Korean citizens, too.

2018.02.03 By. 박경재