MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Nahila ni Roger Federer ang dominasyon sa matagal nang karibal para maisaayos ang semifinal duel sa bagong sumisikat na si Hyeon Chung sa Australian Open.
Ginapi ng defending champion si Tomas Berdych, 7-6, 6-3, 6-4, para mahila ang winning streak sa 14 sa Australian Open quarterfinals at siyam sa kanilang huling paghaharap. Sa kabuuan tangan ni Federer ang 20-6 bentahe sa career meeting sa Melbourne park.
“I had to get a bit lucky. A bit angry. A bit frustrated maybe at the umpire,” sambit ni Federer. “Anyway, glad to get out of that first set. It was key to the match.
“That first set could have gone either way. He deserved it, actually. I stole that one a little bit.”
Tinanghal na unang South Korean si Chung na nakaabot sa Grand Slam tennis semifinal matapos pabagsakin ang hard-hitting na si t No. 97-ranked Tennys Sandgren 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-3 sa Rod Laver Arena.
Naitala ng 21-anyos na si Chung ang giant-killing spree matapos unang gapiin si No. 4 Alexander Zverev at six-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic para makausad sa quarterfinals.
“I think all the people is watching Australian Open now because we make history in Korea,” pahayag ni Chung.
Ang No. 58-ranked na si Chung ang lowest-ranked man na nakausad sa Australian Open semifinals mula nang magawa ni Marat Safin noong 2004. Siya rin ang pinakabatang nakapasok sa Final Four sa Grand Slam event mula ng magawa ni Marin Celic noong 2010.