Domineering Federer marches into final following Chung retirement

Hyeon Chung retired in the second set due to injury after being taught a harsh lesson by Roger Federer in a one-sided semi-final.

Nineteen-time grand slam champion Roger Federer

Defending champion Roger Federer cruised into the Australian Open final when outclassed surprise package Hyeon Chung retired due to injury.

Federer dominated Chung on Rod Laver Arena, winning the first set 6-1 and breezing into a 5-2 lead in the second when the unseeded South Korean was unable to continue due to blisters on his left foot.

Second seed Federer will face Marin Cilic in the final on Sunday, a repeat of the Wimbledon decider which the 19-time grand slam champion won in straight sets last year.

Federer subjected the promising 58th-ranked prospect a harsh lesson to reach his 30th major final, breaking four times in another masterclass under the roof at Melbourne Park on a rainy Australia Day.

The five-time Australian Open champion has not dropped a set in the tournament and 21-year-old Next Gen ATP Finals champion Chung, who beat Novak Djokovic en route to the last four in a stunning run, was no match for the legendary 36-year-old before succumbing to injury.

Federer mixed the pace of his strokes up cannily in the opening game, breaking when the bespectacled underdog netted a backhand and holding after facing a break point to lead 2-0.

The world number two was in complete control, going a double-break up when an overexuberant Chung was off target with a forehand and fizzing a cross-court forehand winner past the youngster to take the opening set in just over half an hour.

Chung could only watch on as the Federer whipped an exquisite backhand down the line to lead 3-1 in the second, the imperious Swiss dominating his service games to remain firmly on course for another final.

The struggling Chung had his blistered left foot taped at 4-1 down and decided he could not continue when he was on the brink of losing another set.

Federer had been almost flawless, toying with his inexperienced opponent and putting on a clinic which ended in anticlimactic fashion after only 62 minutes.

 

STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
Federer [2] bt Chung 6-1 5-2 Ret.

WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORS
Federer – 24/14
Chung – 6/14

ACES/DOUBLE FAULTS
Federer – 9/1
Chung– 1/3

BREAK POINTS WON
Federer – 4/11
Chung – 0/1

FIRST SERVE PERCENTAGE
Federer – 43
Chung – 57

PERCENTAGE OF POINTS WON ON FIRST/SECOND SERVE
Federer – 94/71
Chung – 57/39

TOTAL POINTS
Federer – 57
Chung – 33