Korean community gets behind Australian Open hopeful Chung Hyeon

After his unlikely defeat against his tennis idol, South-Korea's Chung Hyeon has left the Australian-Korean community excited about this year's Australian Open.

Chung and Djokovic during match at the 2018 Australian Open at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, on January 22, 2018. Source: AAP

Australia's Korean community had plenty to celebrate when 21-year-old Chung Hyeon defeated former world number one Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open.

The unexpected defeat meant Chung is the first Korean player to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final.

And his Australian-based supporters have been riding the wave since.

"Very happy and very proud, you know, the Korean," one community member told SBS News after Chung's shock win.

In-Hwarr, a Western Sydney-based tennis coach, believed the win would inspire younger players.

"First time to make qualifying in Korean history so I am very proud of him," In-Hwarr said.

Chung (KOR) during his fourth round match at the 2018 Australian Open at Melbourne Park in Melbourne. Source: AAP

Chung's quarter-final match will be against American Tennys Sandgren on Wednesday night.

Sandgren has come under fire for his political views after he deleted 18 months worth of tweets.

The 26-year-old was grilled on his seeming support for the US alt-right movement.

The Korean community members SBS News spoke with said they were putting their money on Chung in the battle of the underdogs.

The 21-year-old is building up quite the following as he eyes off one of the sport's most sought-after prizes - the Australian Open title. 

"I can't believe it, it's a dream come true tonight," he said after the Djokovic defeat.

"I really don't know how I won this tonight but I am just honoured to play with Novak again, and I am just happy to see him back on the tour."

The three-set battle lasted almost 3.5 hours and upset the six-time winner.

His humble victory seemed unlikely a few years ago when Chung was completing compulsory military service back home.

Who is Chung Hyeon?

• Chung Hyeon is a 21-year-old South Korean tennis player
• He's worn glasses from an early age and took up tennis as a child to help maintain his eyesight
• He has gone on to become the highest ranking South Korean tennis player in history after moving to play full-time tennis in 2014
• Serbian Novak Djokovic was the tennis player Chung grew up idolising