Hyeon Chung Is Real Deal

"I didn't just hear that, did I?" My partner called from the kitchen, while I watched Hyeon Chung dismantle Tennys Sandgren.
"I'm afraid you did," I said.
In television commentators' stupid insistence on finding insulting nicknames for players, Chung had just been referred to as "Quadzilla." He also had been referred to during the evening as "the professor" because he wears glasses. Other players call him that, the commentators explained. But his prevailing over an impairment, poor vision, shouldn't be mocked.
There also was the incessant notation about his being the first South Korean to reach as high a ranking in the 20s as he will achieve following his semifinal victory. Why the obsession about where players are from? One of the great things about tennis is that it transcends borders. It is one of the most international sports around. That should be celebrated rather than having fans egged on to root for the player that comes from their country more than the craftsmanship of the players before them. That includes at the Olympics, where excellence rather than mere geography should be the main thing cheered.
And what craftsmanship was on display by Chung in his straight-set victory against Sandgren. Brad Gilbert said his background return is the best in the game and he was right on the money with that comment.
Chung, the champion at the Next Gen event for young players last fall, is slightly older than Sasha Zverev, who he beat in the Australian Open's third round. Chung is 21 and Zverev is 20. Both are among a host of an exciting group of rising stars in the ATP, including 18-year-old Denis Shapovalov and 20-year-old Andrey Rublev, the runner-up at Next Gen in Milan.
Chung also defeated the legendary Novak Djokovic in the Round of 16 at this year's Australian. Djokovic may still be injured but Chung had no easy draw, despite it looking otherwise with his facing Sandgren in the quarters.
Chung is the real deal, in other words. He deserves better than silly nicknames.