There are three ATP Tour occasions this week with lots of the world’s largest stars in motion. One participant within the Eugene Korea Open Tennis Championships doubles draw stands proud: Hyeon Chung.
The South Korean, who received the 2017 Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals and superior to the Australian Open semi-finals lower than three months later, has not competed since September 2020 on account of a again damage. Chung is making his return on the doubles court docket alongside countryman Soonwoo Kwon.
“Attributable to my accidents, I wanted to [stay on the] sideline over the [past] few years after which lastly I made it again on court docket once more,” Chung stated. “I’m feeling simply so completely happy to play tennis once more.”
In response to Chung, his decrease again damage required fixed therapy and rehab, which is why he was unable to compete since Roland Garros qualifying in 2020. He solely performed six matches in any respect ranges that yr.
“I needed to deal with it and rehab, deal with and rehab on a regular basis,” Chung stated. “Then [it was] coaching, coaching, coaching and rehab for like [the whole] two years.”
Though Chung is just enjoying doubles this week, he’s quickly making his singles return. The South Korean plans to play on the ATP Challenger Tour in his residence nation within the coming weeks and see how that goes.
“[My] first purpose for positive is [to suffer] no accidents, so staying wholesome,” Chung stated. “That is my first competitors after two years, so I don’t need to rush, I don’t need to push too exhausting.”
It isn’t way back Chung was one of many fastest-rising gamers on the ATP Tour. After his run to the Australian Open semi-finals in 2018, he quickly reached a career-high No. 19 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. Now he doesn’t have a rating in any respect.
However Chung, who has missed the competitors probably the most throughout his time away, is remaining affected person and having fun with this second as he begins his journey again in direction of the sop of the game.
“[There are] many emotions coming collectively, like happiness and slightly bit nervousness as a result of I didn’t play for 2 years,” Chung stated. “However I’m simply completely happy to play once more, particularly at residence the place I dwell in Seoul.”
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