Six-time former champion Novak Djokovic believes that Hyeon Chung has the potential to break into the Top 10 of the ATP Rankings following the South Korean’s 7-6(4), 7-5, 7-6(3) victory in the Australian Open fourth round.

“He definitely has the game to be a Top 10 player, without a doubt,” said Djokovic. “How far he can go, that depends on him. Obviously, I respect him a lot because he’s a hard worker, he’s disciplined, he’s a nice guy, he’s quiet. You can see that he cares about his career and his performances. So I’m sure that he’s going to get some really good results in the future.”

Djokovic always felt he was fighting to get back into the match against No. 58-ranked Chung, who captured the inaugural Next Gen ATP Finals title last year.

“Congratulations to Chung and his team – amazing,” said Djokovic. “[An] amazing performance. He was a better player on the court tonight. He deserved to win, no question about it. Whenever he was in trouble, he came up with some unbelievable shots, passing shots. Just from the back of the court, he was like a wall. It was impressive.

“I had a terrible start – [a] double break down, [but] managed to come back. Probably, in the first set tie-break, he just was mentally tough and patient. The second set also he was up. I think the entire match I was trying to come back and chase him. He was always ahead.”

Djokovic, who was contesting his first tour-level event since July 2017 at Wimbledon due to a right elbow injury, admitted that his elbow was soon bothering him in the clash on Rod Laver Arena. The injury required on-court treatment.

“Unfortunately, it’s not great. Kind of [at the] end of the first set it started hurting more. So I had to deal with it until the end of the match… I have to say I’m very grateful I had the chance to play. I didn’t know if I was going to play or not. I played four matches here. It was a good tournament, of course. I mean, it’s disappointing to go out in the fourth round. The circumstances are such [and] I have to accept it. That’s the reality.”

“It’s frustrating, of course, when you have that much time and you don’t heal properly… I’m just trying my best, obviously, because I love this sport. I enjoy training. I enjoy getting myself better, hoping that I can get better, perform and compete. Today was one of those days where, unfortunately, it was too much to deal with.

“But I don’t want to talk about my injury tonight, because then I’m taking away from Chung’s victory, the credit that he deserves.”

When asked to compare Chung now, to their last meeting at the 2016 Australian Open, the former World No. 1 said, “Oh, there’s a big difference. Obviously, he’s physically stronger. I think he got some big matches in the past 15 months on the big stage.

“I think that helps to build a confidence and experience, to know what to do in deciding moments. Today, he was great in those moments. He showed no weaknesses, not many. I mean, he was really consistent [and] played a great match.”

Twelve months ago, Djokovic fell to World No. 117 Denis Istomin in the second round. The 12-time Grand Slam championship winner, who has returned to the Tour in 2018 with a new service motion, last captured a major title in June 2016 at Roland Garros (d. Murray).

Last week, Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka kicked off their comebacks at the Australian Open, with both returning to action after extended injury absences in 2017. Now, it’s time for another former Top 5 star to begin his climb back up the ATP Rankings.

In one of the most highly anticipated ATP Challenger Tour appearances of all time, Kei Nishikori is set to make his comeback debut this week in Newport Beach, California. But the Japanese star, who was up to a career-high World No. 4 less than a year ago, will have to fight a loaded field for the trophy.

Set to return to the pro circuit after a wrist injury sidelined him since August, the five-time ATP Challenger Tour titlist is poised to battle a line-up of budding stars and established veterans at the Oracle Challenger Series Newport Beach. Nishikori joins #NextGenATP Americans Frances Tiafoe, Taylor Fritz, Michael Mmoh, Stefan Kozlov, Tommy Paul, Reilly Opelka, Serbian teen Miomir Kecmanovic and Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik. Seeds Bjorn Fratangelo, Ernesto Escobedo and Cameron Norrie are also threats to go far at the inaugural $150,000 event.

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Nishikori will open his 2018 campaign against a qualifier, with a potential second-round date against either Opelka or Denis Kudla. Despite enduring an injury-plagued 2017 season, the big-hitting Opelka is always a threat to spring an upset. And Kudla, a qualifier at the Australian Open, reached the second round where he pushed fifth seed Dominic Thiem to five sets. Escobedo is also in his quarter of the draw, with Fritz, Bublik and recent Noumea champion Noah Rubin looming large as potential semi-final opponents.

In the bottom half of the draw, two blockbuster first-round clashes are on tap. Second seed Tiafoe, who turned 20 on Saturday, opens with a #NextGenATP tussle against Kecmanovic. Kecmanovic was a practice partner at last year’s Nitto ATP Finals after lifting his first Challenger trophy in Suzhou, China. Fifth seed Norrie battles Mmoh in another must-see meeting. One of the biggest performers of the 2017 Challenger season, Norrie is looking to conclude his Top 100 ascent with a deep run in Newport Beach. Mmoh, meanwhile, is coming off an impressive quarter-final run at the Brisbane International presented by Suncorp, notching his first match wins on the ATP World Tour.

Main draw play begins on Monday and you can watch all the action with free live streaming of the ATP Challenger Tour.

The main draws have been determined! Stay tuned to find out more… pic.twitter.com/oiuuXmMJsh

— Oracle Challenger Series (@OracleChallngrs) January 20, 2018

Nick Kyrgios came up short against Grigor Dimitrov after four thrilling sets in their fourth-round encounter at the Australian Open on Sunday. But the Aussie already has his sights set on challenging the ATP World Tour’s best for the rest of the season.

Kyrgios, who was looking to follow up his title at the Brisbane International presented by Suncorp with a strong showing in Melbourne this fortnight, was quelled by an inspired performance by No.3 seed Dimitrov under the lights on Rod Laver Arena. For the 22-year-old Australian, it comes time once again to reckon with himself.

 Down? Yes. Out? Think again.

“I lost tonight to one of the best players in the world,” said Kyrgios. “[I] went down swinging. Obviously, I feel a lot better this time around. Last year I really didn’t know what I was going to do after the Australian Open last year. I feel like I have more of a vision and goal for this year. I think I’m in a good headspace.

“I just feel like I’m trying to get better. There [were] periods where I stepped on the court last year where I was just doing it for the sake of doing it,” he added. “In the offseason I didn’t really have a coach but I was working on two things that I thought I needed to work on, [which were] my volleys and transitioning and my forehand return…. I think it paid off. I’m trying to get better.”

It’s no secret that Kyrgios has, at times, struggled to maintain conviction – both in his matches and throughout a season. But in 2018, the four-time ATP World Tour titlist has demonstrated the type of renewed motivation that could see him contend for the tour’s most prestigious prizes, including a spot at the season-ending Nitto ATP Finals in London. 

“I just had a massive month,” reconciled Kyrgios after the match. “I was feeling a little tight at some stages in the match and the adrenaline kicked in. I’m pretty happy with my Aussie summer. I thought I played well tonight.” 

Moving forward into February, the Australian is slated to compete for his country in Davis Cup before heading to the ATP World Tour 500 event in Rotterdam, which will provide him with the chance to claim one of his biggest titles as well as the opportunity to test the newfound resolve instilled in his game. 

“I still feel confident after losing that match,” said Kyrgios. “You know, all eyes are on Davis Cup for me now in a week and a half, or couple weeks. I’m just going to rest for a couple days and slowly get back into hitting, hitting a couple of balls and just being with the team and that’s it.”

That’s it. After all, he just wants to get better.