Hyeon Chung, who has been on an unstoppable rise up the rankings to number 51, was given a slight reality check at the Kooyong Classic with a 6-2, 6-2 defeat over former world number 9 Nicolas Almagro.
The South Korean impressed with his opening win in the event against Omar Jasika and also last week in Sydney where he gave Marin Cilic a good run for his money in the second round but today the experienced Spaniard displayed some of the tennis that took him to the top ten before his foot injury.
Chung will have to take away the positives from this week as he prepares for his first main draw appearance at the Australian Open next week, having lost in the finaly qualifying round twelve months ago.
Marcos Baghdatis also finished his participation at the event with a win against Paul-Henri Mathieu. The Cypriot took the encounter 7-6, 6-3 and after the match was asked about that infamous run to the final in 2006. “It was the best two weeks in my tennis life. It makes me happy to think about them, I’m always happy to be playing back in Australia”, summed up Baghdatis.
The world number 48 had lost his opening match at the Kooyong Classic to Pablo Carreño but finished his preparations for his favourite Grand Slam in the best way possible: “I felt much better today on court, more explosive. I moved better and served better, It’s good to get in two matches before the Open”.
Finally, Omar Jasika, the busiest participant at this year’s event, picked up his third defeat in three against fellow young gun Kyle Edmund. The Brit produced 21 winners and 8 aces in a 6-3, 6-3 victory. “The more matches you play, the more comfortable you get. I have 12 months more experience now than I did last year”, summed up Edmund.
The final day of the event takes place tomorrow with Simon facing Carreño in the third place playoff and Goffin meeting Feliciano Lopez in the final.
