Former world no. 19 Hyeon Chung has not competed on the ATP Tour since 2019! Plagued with injuries and surgeries, the Korean hit rock bottom a couple of times, jeopardizing his career but never giving up.
The 28-year-old entered six tournaments in the closing stages of 2024 and gained confidence ahead of 2025. The former Australian Open semi-finalist started the new season with the Futures title in Bali. Hyeon earned another trophy this week.
The Korean competed at the M15 Nishi-Tokyo Futures in Japan and bested five rivals in straight sets. Chung dropped 19 games in ten sets and lifted a trophy in style. Hyeon lost the final in China last week and fixed that in Japan.
Hyeon Chung sta tornando 🇰🇷🔙
🏆 Secondo titolo ITF in stagione (su 3 finali) e top 500 a un passo. A inizio anno era numero 1107. pic.twitter.com/UuGCHVRNSu
— Antonio Sepe (@iamsepeantonio) March 23, 2025
The former world no. 19 needs one more good result to find himself in the top-500 for the first time since July 2022! Hyeon started his Nishi-Tokyo campaign with a commanding 6-2, 6-0 victory over Yusuke Kusuhara.
The Aussie Tai Leonard Sach suffered identical loss in the second round, with the Korean dominating on serve and return to sail into the quarter-final. Another Aussie, Moerani Bouzige, challenged Chung the most. The more experienced player prevailed 6-4, 6-3 to book his place in the last four.
Hyeon Chung© Stream screenshot
The Korean served well in the opener and grabbed a late break in game ten for 6-4. Hyeon raced into a 5-0 lead in the second set and held in game nine to remain on the title course. Hikaru Shiraishi stood no chance in the semi-final.
Chung earned a 6-2, 6-2 victory after another fine display. The Korean lost serve once and kept the pressure on the other side. He stole the rival’s serve two times in the opening set for 6-2. They traded early breaks in the second set before Hyeon shifted into a higher gear.
Hyeon Chung© Stream screenshot
The 28-year-old rattled off four games at 2-2, sailing into the title clash. He faced Takuya Kumasaka in the final and secured a 6-4, 6-0 victory in an hour and 31 minutes to lift a trophy. Chung played against four break points and defended three.
The Korean provided five breaks, earning an early advantage in the opener and serving a bagel in set number two. Hyeon made a flying start and generated two breaks for a 3-0 advantage. Kumasaka pulled one break back and created two break chances at 4-5.
Hyeon Chung© Stream screenshot
Chung denied them and held for 6-4 and a massive boost. The Japanese got broken at 15 in the first game of the second set. The Korean repeated that in the third game to open a 3-0 gap. Hyeon denied a break point in the fourth game and extended the lead.
The former world no. 19 denied the opponent’s three game points in the next one and notched another break for a 5-0 advantage. Chung served for the title in game six and held at 30, celebrating his second Futures title of the season.
Tennis World USA