Chung joins five-set trend at US Open after marathon win over Verdasco

He fell outside the top 150 in the World as a result and had to resort to playing on the Challenger Tour to regain match fitness. As a result he went through qualifying at Flushing Meadows as one of the standout names in the draw.

It was a second consecutive five-set victory on Thursday for the South Korean who defeated Fernando Verdasco from two sets down 1-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3).

This came after defeating Ernesto Escobedo 3-6, 6-3, 6-7, 6-4, 6-2 in the first round and it continues a trend.

Twenty three matches went to a fifth set in the first two rounds at the US Open meaning that it guarantees this Grand Slam will have more matches going the distance than any other this year or in 2018.

Chung is among five players who have achieved this feat with Alexander Zverev, Alexander Bublik, Paolo Lorenzi and Kamil Majchrzak also doing so with the latter two alongside Chung coming through qualifying.