- Hyeon Chung was fast out of the tracks and claimed the first set 6-4
- After an exchange of breaks in the second the South Korean emerged on top 7-5
- The 21-year-old broke early in the third set to claim it 6-3 and wrap up victory
Hyeon Chung’s trailblazing run through the Australian Open continued on Wednesday as the South Korean tossed American Tennys Sandgren aside 6-4, 7-6, 6-3 to become his nation’s first Grand Slam semi-finalist.
Bespectacled like Clark Kent but playing like Superman at a sunbathed Rod Laver Arena, world No 58 Chung became the lowest ranked player into the last four at Melbourne Park since Marat Safin in 2004.
World No 97 Sandgren battled gamely to save five match points but finally surrendered when he sent a desperate retrieve ballooning over the baseline.
The 21-year-old Chung will meet the winner of Roger Federer and Tomas Berdych for a place in the final.
Hyeon Chung clenches his fist after claiming the first set 6-4 against Tenys Sandgren
The South Korean reaches out to hit a forehand during his quarter-final match on Wednesday
American rookie Sandgren piles into a forehand as he fights back after dropping the first set
South Korean fans on the Rod Laver Arena show their support for Chung in his last eight clash
Australian legend Rod Laver waves to the crowd as he takes his seat ahead of the start of play