Hyeon Chung was as soon as one of the vital promising younger abilities on the ATP Tour. The inaugural Subsequent Gen ATP Finals champion in 2017, the South Korean has struggled for a number of years with accidents.

However the 26-year-old is on the street again. Chung performed his first singles match in two and a half years two weeks in the past at an ATP Challenger Tour occasion in Seoul and was again in motion on Tuesday in Busan on the Head Busan Open.

The previous World No. 19 misplaced his return match to Jordan Thompson in straight units, however confirmed indicators of enchancment in a three-set loss Tuesday to Yasutaka Uchiyama.

“It’s nonetheless a disgrace that I didn’t win. I performed my finest [on] each level… I performed for greater than two hours, so I’m glad with the way in which that I performed in the present day,” Chung stated in solutions supplied by match workers. “Personally, I want to give myself credit score for ending the match with none accidents or soreness, and final however not least, I’ve given all I had for every level.”

Chung discovered tennis takeaways from the match, however was most happy with battling on courtroom for 2 hours and 35 minutes.

“It will have been higher if I had used [the] courtroom broadly, however I used to be too inflexible, and my opponent strongly dragged me round,” Chung stated. “Probably the most notable factor about in the present day’s recreation is that I completed with taking part in greater than two hours of [an] precise match. Regardless of coaching for greater than two hours, [I] by no means performed greater than two hours of [an] precise match.”

Followers may discover a change in Chung’s service movement. He brings his serving arm right into a “trophy place” earlier than tossing the ball and serving.

“That is the least injury-prone, least uncomfortable serve motion,” Chung stated. “In the meanwhile, avoiding accidents is extra vital than with the ability to make a strong serve.”

Chung hoped he might play a number of matches in Busan to achieve rhythm and get used to competing in a match setting once more. After taking part in two tournaments in South Korea, he’ll begin to look abroad.

“In the meanwhile, there are not any video games that may be performed within the nation. My workforce and I’ll evaluate the abroad competitors schedule and guarded rankings in order that I can play as many ATP occasions as attainable,” Chung stated. “There isn’t any doubt in my thoughts that I’ll strive abroad excursions once more.”

Chung’s focus has been on rehabilitation, and he believes that he’ll be capable of shift that focus to extra on-court coaching. The South Korean hopes that may assist him return to his prime degree. For now, he’s joyful to have made his return to singles competitors on dwelling soil.

“I’m so grateful to have a comeback match in Seoul and Busan,” Chung stated. “Thanks so much to my followers and to the match organisation for coming to see me and giving me this unbelievable alternative. I’ll do my finest to make sure my followers see the perfect performances I can present.”