hankyoreh

Tennis players board a plane nearly every week to travel the world for tournaments. They are well adapted to the lifestyle – to the point where they can’t distinguish whether their destination in South Korea or Australia. Those who have trouble adjusting to time differences and insist on the same routines face many hurdles in the touring life. Chung Hyeon is not a picky eater; he’s happy to dine in whatever country his tournament happens to be. He doesn’t seek out Korean food specifically. The same has been true for the Australian Open. Chung went for Chinese exactly one time – and that was to avoid the potential burden of eating steak ahead of a big match.

Following his quarterfinal match on Jan. 24 against Tennys Sandgren, Chung did stretching and received a massage. He followed that up by getting some serious rest, without setting a practice schedule for the Jan. 25 ahead of his matchup with Roger Federer. It was the same routine he followed the day after his Round of 16 match against Novak Djokovic. Chung opted for rest over practice, hoping to conserve his strength and steel himself mentally. He eats well and rests well, doing whatever he can to avoid anything that might get in the way of his match performance.

As a result, he shows excellent focus on the court. He never lets a single point go. As the quarterfinal match started, a siren suddenly went off just as Sandgren was preparing to serve. It was a false alarm. The spectators were abuzz, but Chung did not seem rattled – he was focused solely on returning Sandgren’s serve. After advancing to the semifinals of a Grand Slam event, Chung did not seem particularly conscious of what a tremendous feat he’d achieved. He regards his semifinal against Federer as just another match against a tennis player. Whatever happens, he hopes to learn from it.

When Chung is on his own, his movements seem unconsciously reserved. A closer look shows him stretching his right wrist by folding it in and out. It’s part of his effects to optimize his body for playing tennis.

Chung is well known for having the nickname “The Professor.” The reason stems from the glasses he wears to correct his eyesight, but seen from up close, his actions seem professor-like in other ways too. He doesn’t speak much, and he tends to think deeply. With the 2018 Australian Open, Chung Hyeon has become a star. But his growing resemblance to Federer – the most respected tennis player in the world – extends beyond his prowess to matters of character and manners.

Respectful to both opponents and fans

To begin with, he makes a point of being considerate to his opponents. Where many athletes sprawl across the court or leap up and down when they win a big match, this young South Korean in his early twenties avoids such displays. His victory celebration is confined to a light pump of his racket hand. Only once the opponent has left the court completely and the announcer has spoken his name does he begin to celebrate. He also shows great consideration for his fans, responding individually to the hundreds of congratulatory texts he receives. He diligently answers requests to sign autographs and take pictures with spectators.

Chung’s fluent English abilities have also drawn attention in Australia. For most South Korean tennis players, giving a post-victory interview in English in front of 10,000 people would be unthinkable. Chung won the crowd over with his witty and funny responses. He cuts a stylish figure while showing a dignity that belies his young age.

The powers that have helped turn Chung Hyeon into an international tennis star lie in his legs and his mental strength. He learned at an early age not to show his feelings when he stepped on court. He maintains a poker face throughout his matches, and has honed the mental ability not to let himself get rattled during moments of crisis.

Chung’s sturdy thighs have drawn the attention of tennis world figures overseas as well. While his lower body is comparatively shorter than his upper body, Chung has worked to give himself strong thighs. His coach, South African Neville Godwin, was the one who spotted this physical characteristic. Godwin also helped develop Chung’s service motion after studying how to give him a higher percentage.

After tennis, the next biggest focus of Chung Hyeon’s attention is the straightness of his teeth. The athlete visits a dentist every time he returns to South Korea to fix their crookedness. He currently plans to go back once again in the break between the Australian Open and his next tournament.

South Korean tennis officials who are in Australia for the tournament are curious to see how Chung’s surprise star status affects his attitude. Most of them were confident he is unlikely to become arrogant or put on airs. They also believe he won’t let the outpouring of press attention get to him or succumb to a slump – thanks to his calm demeanor as an athlete and a maturity beyond his years.

In a recent interview, Chung said, “I’m a professional athlete, so I want to be a mature presence, focusing a bit more on how I appear on court from one moment to the next. I’m very tough on myself. That’s what a real pro does.”

By Park Won-sik, editor of Tennis People (formerly a Hankyoreh staff reporter)

Chung Hyeon (22, Korea National Sports University) achieved a historic feat when he became the first South Korean to reach the semifinals of a tennis major at the 2018 Australian Open. Unfortunately, very few representatives of the South Korean press have been covering at the event from Melbourne. Park Won-sik, a former Hankyoreh reporter who is now chief editor for the magazine “Tennis People,” has been watching Chung up close from Australia since the tournament began. He provided his piece “Chung Hyeon on the Ground” to the Hankyoreh.