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[2] Rafael Nadal -02- (ESP) def [Q] Hyeon Chung -170- (KOR) 63 64 62
Match recap from Arthur Ashe Stadium announcer Andy Taylor.
Big ask for Hyeon Chung today against a healthy Rafael Nadal.
Injured for 5-months this season, the 2018 Australian Open Semifinalist launched his comeback just 4-weeks-ago, and captured the title at the Chengdu Challenger. On his way to the US Open, he made stops at Challenger events in Japan and Vancouver before thrashing his way through the qualifying draw.
This was Chung’s 6th match since the start of US Open Fan week. The last two were 5-setters, including a Round-2 victory over Fernando Verdasco where Hyeon saved match points in set-3 and the deciding-set tiebreak.
Meanwhile, Nadal came into today’s 3rd-Rounder well-rested. On Friday night, Thanasi Kokkinakis withdrew before their Round-2 match.
NEXT: [22] Marin Cilic -23- (CRO) vs [2] Rafael Nadal -02- (ESP)
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Round-3 Biography | [2] Rafael Nadal -02- (ESP)
This 33-year-old is one of the greatest to ever play the game. This June at Roland Garros, he won his record 12th title and became the only player to ever win a Grand Slam tournament 12-times. A 2-time Olympic Gold Medalist and 4-time Davis Cup Champion, he now owns a record 35 ATP Masters-1000 titles and 83 career Singles titles in all. And it was here in 2010, at just 24-years-old, he became the youngest man in the Open era – to earn the career Grand Slam. From Mallorca, Spain – Please welcome 18-time Grand Slam Champion Rafael Nadal.
▲ R3: def [Q] Hyeon Chung -170- (KOR) 63 64 62
▲ R2: -WALKOVER- | Thanasi Kokkinakis -203- (AUS)
▲ R1: def John Millman -60- (AUS) 63 62 62
Round-3 Biography | [Q] Hyeon Chung -170- (KOR)
Four years ago, this 23-year-old won his first Grand Slam main-draw match right here at the US Open. 2-years later, he became the inaugural ATP NextGen Finals Champion. And at the 2018 Australian Open, he stunned the field – upsetting World #4 Alexander Zverev and Novak Djokovic en-route to his first career Grand Slam Semifinal. Sidelined by injury for 5-months this season, he launched his return earlier this month in Chegdu, China where he captured his 9th ATP Challenger Tour Singles title. Competing in his 4th US Open, as a qualifier he has won five consecutive matches to reach the 3rd-Round for the first time. From Korea – making his Arthur Ashe Stadium debut – please welcome Hyeon Chung.
▲ R2: def Fernando Verdasco -34- (ESP) 16 26 75 76 76(3) * Saved match points in the 3rd-set
▲ R1: def Ernesto Escobedo -206- (USA) 36 64 67(5) 64 62
▲ Q3: def Mikael Ymer -107- (FIN) 61 63
▲ Q2: def Stefano Napolitano -212- (ITA) 62 63
▲ Q1: def Sabastian Ofner -167- (AUT) 63 63
Head to Head
This is the third meeting between these two players. Rafael Nadal won both of their previous matches – most recently in the 2nd-Round of the 2017 Paris Masters.
