Melbourne, Jan 25: Roger Federer is figuring out how he will play South Korean unknown quantity Chung Hyeon ahead of Friday's semi-final in one of the Australian Open's most intriguing match-ups in years.
On paper it looks hugely one-sided. Federer, a 19-time Grand Slam champion and veteran of 382 Slam showdowns over 20 years, up against an unseeded 21-year-old lining up for just his 17th match at a major.
It's been a breakthrough tournament for Chung, whose 58th ranking is expected to tumble after toppling six-time champion Novak Djokovic and world No.4 Alexander Zverev on the way to becoming the first South Korean to reach the last four at a Grand Slam.
The Swiss defending champion is a master at working out his opponents and coming up with solutions. Chung will be no different.
"I hardly know Chung. I've hardly spoken to him," Federer said after Czech-mating Tomas Berdych in the quarter-finals.
"Right now I couldn't tell you how I need to play him. One thing I know is I'm going to be playing aggressive.
"I don't know exactly how he returns and how he serves exactly. Those are two major aspects to the game. I have to figure that part out a little bit."
Federer and his brains trust will comb through Chung's matches in Melbourne, but the five-time Australian Open champion has been impressed with the bespectacled Korean's
tournament. "I'm very excited to play Chung. I thought he played an incredible match against Novak Djokovic," he said. -AFP
