Djokovic ousted by Chung but Federer steams on

Wounded12-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic was sent tumbling out of theAustralian Open by Korean giant-killer Chung Hyeon yesterday, butice-cool Roger Federer roared into the quarter-finals.The Serb, whowas returning from six months out with a right elbow injury, was clearlyin pain as his hopes of a seventh Melbourne Park title wereextinguished on Rod Laver Arena 7-6 (7/4), 7-5, 7-6 (7/3).He waskeen not to take away from the glasses-wearing Chung’s huge achievementafter the 21-year-old followed up his win over fourth seed AlexanderZverev in the last round.“Congratulations. Amazing,” said Djokovic,who also had an apparent hip or groin problem, screeching at times whenstretching for the ball.“He was the better player on court today and he deserved to win.”Djokovicsaid the injuries started troubling him at the end of the first set anda decision on where he goes from here would be made after talking withhis medical team.Chung’s reward is a last-eight clash withunheralded American Tennys Sandgren, who upset Austrian fifth seedDominic Thiem 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 (7/9).The Korean, ranked 58, described Djokovic as “my idol”. “I can’t believe this, dream’s come true tonight.”Sandgrenwas also in a daze, becoming just the second man in the last 20 yearssince Frenchman Nicolas Escude to make the quarter-finals on hisAustralian Open debut.“I don’t know if this is a dream or not,” hesaid. “I knew I had to come out and play aggressive and take my chancesand serve well and thankfully it worked out in the end.”For a composed Federer, it was business as normal.TheSwiss defending champion swatted aside one-time training partner MartonFucsovics 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 to make the last eight for an incredible14th time.He will now play fellow veteran Tomas Berdych, asemi-finalist in 2014 and 2015, who demolished Italy’s Fabio Fognini6-1, 6-4, 6-4.“We have had some good ones over the years going backall the way to the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004,” the 19-time GrandSlam champion said of the Czech.“Yeah, I’m looking forward to play against him. He seems in good shape.”Berdych,who is on his way back from back problems, lost to the five-timeAustralian Open champion in the third round last year and the odds areheavily stacked again him.Of the 13 quarter-finals Federer has contested in Melbourne, he has won the lot.Worldnumber one Simona Halep eased into the last eight 6-3, 6-2 overunseeded Naomi Osaka of Japan, delighted to be off court early after anepic and gruelling three-setter in the previous round.While the win was easy, she continues to nurse a troublesome ankle that she rolled early in the tournament.“Ifeel it but I’m trying not to think about it and give it everything,”said Halep, who has never gone beyond the quarters before. She will playsixth seed Karolina Pliskova, who beat fellow Czech Barbora Strycova inthree tough sets.Germany’s Angelique Kerber is the only Grand Slamchampion left among the women, and she was given a big fright as shechases her second Melbourne Park crown after beating Serena Williams in2016.After crushing Maria Sharapova in the last round, she came up against gritty Taiwanese veteran Hsieh Su-wei.At one point Kerber was serving to stay in the match, but she bounced back to win 4-6, 7-5, 6-2. “Creditto her, she played unbelievable. I was running everywhere,” saidKerber, who had a poor 2017 after starting the year as world number one.Thewin set Kerber up with a clash against American Madison Keys, asemi-finalist in 2015 who has found a new lease of life under theguidance of former great Lindsay Davenport.Seeded 17, she flattened French eighth seed Caroline Garcia 6-3, 6-2 in just 68 impressive minutes.