"My body feels pretty good now": Hyeon Chung aims to bounce back
The 23-year-old South Korean was sidelined for five months in 2018 with leg and back problems.
Hyeon Chung says he is finally healthy again and aiming to re-establish himself as a young player to watch on the ATP Tour.
The 23-year-old reached the semifinals of the 2018 Australian Open but has been on and off the tour with leg and back problems. He returned from a five-month layoff this season to qualify and reach the third round of the US Open, falling to Rafael Nadal.
Chung, who is playing this week in the Abu Dhabi exhibition event, also said he's had some good training during the offseason.
"My body feels pretty good now and I’m really excited to start the new season," he told the Abu Dhabi National in an interview before the exhibition.
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Having got to a career-high No.19 in 2018, he would like to get back there—but needs to stay fit to do it.
"First of all I just want to stay healthy on the tour for the whole season... Then I would like to get back into the top 20, if I can," said Chung.
The Abu Dhabi field is stacked with Top 20 opposition, including Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Gael Monfils.
Chung is No.128 in the rankings.