Sebastian Korda

[Kamileki]

[Kamileki]

[Barty]

[Barty]

IW22: pierwszy wygrany mecz w IW.

Sebastian Korda d. [Q] Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-3 6-4

[Damian]

Korda Pushed Nadal In Practice; Can Sebi End Rafa’s Perfect Season?

Spoiler:

Korda gets another chance at stunning his idol
After Sebastian Korda defeated Thanasi Kokkinakis on Thursday evening at the BNP Paribas Open, he knew exactly who is next. When asked about his second-round Indian Wells opponent, red-hot lefty Rafael Nadal, all the American was able to do was laugh.

“It’s going to be different. I’m not going to have those first-time jitters against him and I know what to expect,” Korda said. “He’s obviously going to know what he’s going to expect from me and it’s going to be a fun match for sure.”

<a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/rafa ... ew'>Rafael Nadal</a> and <a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/seba ... >Sebastian Korda</a>
Photo Credit: Peter Staples/Citi Open
Korda’s fandom of the 21-time major champion has been well documented; Sebi even has a cat named after the Spaniard. Coincidentally, he trained with Nadal inside Stadium 1 on Tuesday morning before the draw came out.

“It’s going to be exciting. For the first time ever I got it to a tie-break, but I lost it unfortunately,” Korda said, again cracking a laugh. “But it’s going to be awesome. He’s my biggest idol and I look up to him so much. He’s a great person and I’m really looking forward to it. It’s going to be fun.”

This is just Korda’s second main draw appearance in the BNP Paribas Open. However, he is plenty comfortable at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, where he remembers playing since he was 12. “There’s been a lot of tennis that I’ve played here and I’m really looking forward to a lot more,” he said.

You May Also Like: Nadal On Korda: 'He Is Going To Be A Great One'
Next up on Saturday will be Nadal. The first time they clashed, in the fourth round at Roland Garros two years ago, Nadal easily captured a 6-1, 6-1, 6-2 victory. The American believes he will be able to put those jitters behind him and focus on the task at hand, ending the Spaniard’s perfect 15-0 start to 2022.

“The jitters were first-time intimidation. He’s got this aura about him, he’s just an intimidating person,” Korda said. “But I’m really looking forward to it.”

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/korda-n ... 22-preview

[Damian]

[DUN I LOVE]

Nie no, TennisTV nie ma wstydu...

[Barty]

[Art]

[Damian]

Korda Positive Despite Loss To ‘Incredible Fighter’ Nadal

Spoiler:

#NextGenATP American sits at career-high No. 38 in ATP Rankings
It was so close, yet so far for Sebastian Korda in Indian Wells on Saturday.

The 21-year-old American held a 5-2 lead with a double break in the deciding set of his second-round match with Rafael Nadal at the BNP Paribas Open, but the Spaniard showed trademark grit to secure a 6-2, 1-6, 7-6(3) comeback victory on Stadium 1.

Despite the disappointment of defeat, Korda was pleased with how he pushed the 21-time Grand Slam champion, who has still not lost a match in 2022.

“It is what it is,” the World No. 38 said in his post-match press conference. “I played a really good match, brought out the best in me, put him in a tough situation. But he does what he does best and always comes back and fights. I mean, it sucks, but overall, very happy.

“He's an incredible fighter. Probably one of the greatest fighters of all time.”


Such a measured reaction to a tough loss reflects a wise head on young shoulders, and Korda's general calm demeanour has become a stand-out feature of his rise up the ATP Rankings. The 2021 Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals runner-up believes maintaining this approach, even when the going gets tough, is key to producing his best tennis on a consistent basis.

“I think I do a pretty good job in 99% of my matches,” said the American. “Occasionally I'll get a little upset and I'll show some emotion. But usually, I'm pretty good with just staying calm and staying on course. I thank my mom a lot for that. Whenever I started playing tennis, she kind of put the poker face in me and just told myself to always stay calm and always show some good emotions, never be negative.

“I think I use it really well. I don't think my opponents really know what's going on in my head at any point in the match. I think it's a really big tool for me.”

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As he seeks further improvements in just his second full season on the ATP Tour, Korda will draw on his strong showing against Nadal to give him belief when facing the biggest names.

“I kind of proved to myself that I can play with anyone,” said Korda. “I have a really big game. Now I just have to use the momentum that I built here and keep working hard, and just try and break that barrier of beating the top-level players.”

That also applies to any potential future meetings with Nadal himself, a player Korda describes as his “idol in tennis.” The 2021 Parma champion had the chance to spend more time with the legendary Spaniard this week, the pair playing a practice set before Korda’s first-round victory against Thanasi Kokkinakis.

“Every single time I practice with him or play with him, I feel I'm getting better and better,” said Korda. “It's progress. He's one of the greatest players of all time right now. He's super hot, hasn't lost a match this year. To kind of push him to the edge was awesome. Shows a lot of my game, how dangerous it can be against tough opponents.

“To be that close, it's a lot of positives. It shows me that my game is going to hurt a lot of people. People are going to get nervous. People are going to get worried.”

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/korda-i ... y-reaction

[Barty]

[Kamileki]

[Damian]

[Damian]

Ruthless Korda Races Past Davidovich Fokina

Spoiler:

Sebastian Korda’s love affair with the Miami Open presented by Itau continued in style Thursday, with the American dispatching Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-1, 6-1 to reach the second round.

The 21-year-old enjoyed a run to the quarter-finals on his debut at the ATP Masters 1000 event last year when he was ranked No. 87 in the ATP Rankings. Now at a career-high No. 38, Korda set the wheels in motion for another strong week with a dominant one-hour, 11-minute win over Spaniard Davidovich Fokina.

“I played some long points. It was pretty warm out there so I am super happy to get through,” Korda said in his on-court interview. “I made him run around a bit. I think I did a good job on that today and am super happy with the way I played.”

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The American, who eliminated seeds Fabio Fognini, Aslan Karatsev and Diego Schwartzman in Miami in 2021, fired the ball through the court with great power and precision in his first ATP Head2Head meeting against the World No. 43.

“I made the quarter-finals last year and ever since I was a little kid I came to this tournament,” Korda added. “Now to be able to be here and compete myself, I think little Sebi would be very happy.”

With his victory, Korda will next play 32nd seed Albert Ramos-Vinolas in what will be the first clash between the pair.

Korda arrives in Miami on the back of two promising performances at the BNP Paribas Open, where he defeated Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis before falling agonisingly short against World No. 3 Rafael Nadal in three sets.

The 2021 Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals runner up is competing in his sixth tour-level event of the year in Florida, with his best result this season a run to the last eight on home soil in Delray Beach last month.

Davidovich Fokina was making his Miami debut and is one of nine Spaniards in the singles field. The 22-year-old advanced to the quarter-finals in Doha last month.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/korda-d ... 2-thursday

[Art]

[Barty]

[Damian]

Ready, Set, Go! Ruud, Korda & McNally Push Formula 1 Pedal In Miami

Spoiler:

The Miami Grand Prix is set for 8 May at Hard Rock Stadium
Instead of, 'Game, set, match' it was, 'Ready, set, go' on Thursday at the Miami Open presented by Itau.

ATP players Casper Ruud and Sebastian Korda joined WTA player Caty McNally in testing a Formula 1 simulator inside Hard Rock Stadium. There are many F1 fans on Tour, and they were excited to try out their racing skills before the Miami Grand Prix comes to the same venue on 8 May.

"Now I've got a small feel of it, and you can go quite fast I would say," Ruud said. "I think I reached about 185 miles per hour. It was a lot of fun and I can't wait to watch on TV when F1 comes here to Miami."

Caty McNally and <a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/casp ... ew'>Casper Ruud</a>
Photo Credit: Andrew Eichenholz/ATP Tour
In the simulator, the players used real driving controls and pedals, with projected "best lines" on the screen to help them navigate the Miami track. That does not mean it was easy, though.

"The simulator didn't go as well as planned! I lost control of the car maybe three times and I wouldn't walk out of that in a regular F1 car, so I'm glad that this was a simulator," McNally said. "But it was fun. Hopefully next time I could do a little better."

<a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/seba ... >Sebastian Korda</a>
Photo Credit: Andrew Eichenholz/ATP Tour
Korda was fulfilling his media requests following his first-round win against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina when he spotted the simulator. The American had a blast giving it a shot, before encouraging one of his favourite drivers for the upcoming Miami Grand Prix.

"I'm not a good driver, at all!" Korda said. "Carlos Sainz, come on! I know you can do it!"

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/formula-1-miami-2022

[Damian]

[Kamileki]

[Barty]