#NextGenATP Korda challenges idol Nadal
Will reigning Next Gen ATP Finals champion Jannik Sinner's breakout Grand Slam continue at Roland Garros, or will in-form German Alexander Zverev send the history-making teen packing in Sunday's fourth round?
Nineteen-year-old Sinner is the youngest player to reach the fourth round on the Parisian clay since Novak Djokovic in 2006. The Italian has not dropped a set through three matches, including his impressive victory against 11th seed David Goffin in the first round. Sixth seed Zverev, who was extended to five sets in the second round, knows he faces a stiff challenge.
“[Sinner] is playing incredible... He is somebody that is definitely coming up and playing really well right now,” Zverev said. “[He is] somebody who has a lot of power. We will see how the match goes, but I feel like I am playing better and maybe I have a little more experience. But the young guys, they have no fear, no reason to be nervous, so it can go both ways.”
When Roland Garros was played last year, Sinner wasn't ranked highly enough to earn a spot in qualifying. But despite his rapid ascent, the World No. 75 thinks like a veteran. He is not feeling overly confident heading into one of the biggest matches of his career just because he hasn't yet dropped a set.
“You have to think match after match. I played a great first-round match against David, which gave me a little bit of confidence, for sure. But it's tough, it's not about winning in straight sets or winning in five sets,” Sinner said. “I have [to] improve even my performance after three sets, for sure. Like in the US Open I lost in five sets, so I still have to learn very much about playing Grand Slams. I played one Grand Slam at [last year's] US Open, [this year's] Australian Open. This is my third main draw. I'm still young, I can improve everything.”
This will be the pair's first ATP Head2Head meeting. Zverev has enjoyed a successful year at the Grand Slams, reaching his maiden major final at the US Open after advancing to the Australian Open semi-finals. The 23-year-old is trying to reach his third consecutive quarter-final at Roland Garros, which would make him the only German man to accomplish that feat. Former World No. 1 Boris Becker made the last eight in Paris four times (1986-87, '89, '91), but never in three straight years.
<a href='/en/players/alexander-zverev/z355/overview'>Alexander Zverev</a>
Sinner is one of four remaining tournament debutants — a group that also includes Daniel Altmaier, Hugo Gaston and Korda — at Roland Garros. If any of them advances to the quarter-finals, they will be the first to reach the last eight on debut at this event since Rafael Nadal in 2005.
Perhaps fittingly, Korda plays Nadal himself. The 12-time Roland Garros champion will have a major advantage over his opponent: experience.
Entering the tournament, Nadal owned a 992-201 tour-level record. His fourth-round opponent #NextGenATP American Sebastian Korda’s mark? 0-3. Korda had never played a tour-level match on clay prior to this event.
Nadal has been in top form throughout his opening three matches at Stade Roland Garros, dropping a combined 19 games to move past Egor Gerasimov, Mackenzie McDonald and Stefano Travaglia.
<a href='/en/players/rafael-nadal/n409/overview'>Rafael Nadal</a> owns a 13-1 record in Round of 16 matches at <a href='/en/tournaments/roland-garros/520/overview'>Roland Garros</a>.
Nadal is aware of the unique situation he will find himself in on Sunday, as he continues his quest for a record-equalling 20th Grand Slam crown. The Spaniard will be competing against a player who considers him his idol, a feeling Nadal can relate to from his early experiences on the ATP Tour. The 19-time Grand Slam champion handled the pressure of playing his childhood inspirations well, winning his first ATP Head2Head clashes against Carlos Moya and Andre Agassi.
“[Being Korda’s idol] means that I have been on the TV for such a long time, that's the main thing,” Nadal said. “The same like when I was a kid, I was watching Sampras, Agassi, Carlos Moya… I know he's playing great. He's a very young kid with a lot of power. I think he has an amazing future - hopefully not yet.”
Despite his lack of experience, Korda is already making his mark in Paris. The 20-year-old, son of 1992 runner-up Petr Korda, became the first qualifier to reach the Roland Garros fourth round since 2011 with a straight-sets win against Pedro Martinez on Friday.
Following his sixth win from qualifying, Korda admitted that he was ‘praying’ for Nadal to be his next opponent. When the American steps onto court, not only will he be playing one of his biggest inspirations, but he will also be attempting to beat the man he named his cat after.
“I named my cat Rafa after him,” Korda said. “That says a lot about how much I love the guy.”
<a href='/en/players/sebastian-korda/k0ah/overview'>Sebastian Korda</a> named his cat after <a href='/en/tournaments/roland-garros/520/overview'>Roland Garros</a> fourth-round opponent <a href='/en/players/rafael-nadal/n409/overview'>Rafael Nadal</a>.
Sebastian Korda and his cat, Rafa, named after Rafael Nadal. Photo Credit: Sebastian Korda
US Open champion Dominic Thiem will aim to reach the quarter-finals in Paris for the fifth straight year when he meets 20-year-old Frenchman Hugo Gaston in the final match on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
Thiem, who owns a 4-0 record in fourth-round matches at this event, has been in top form throughout his opening three matches at the clay-court Grand Slam championship. The Austrian has claimed straight-sets victories against Marin Cilic, former World No. 8 Jack Sock and Casper Ruud, who owns the most tour-level wins on clay this year (17).
Gaston will need to complete a second consecutive shock victory if he is to reach his first Grand Slam quarter-final. The World No. 239 stunned 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-0 on Friday.
“I'm very happy to play against Dominic,” Gaston said. “He's a fantastic player. A great fighter. It's a tough match for sure, but I [will] try to take pleasure [from my time on the] court and we will see.”
Thiem
Diego Schwartzman will face Lorenzo Sonego for the first time on Court Suzanne-Lenglen. The Argentine will look to continue his fine form when he battles the Italian, following an impressive run through his opening three matches.
Schwartzman has continued to play at the level that helped him reach his first ATP Masters 1000 final at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia last month. The 2018 quarter-finalist has clinched straight-sets wins against Generali Open champion Miomir Kecmanovic, Lorenzo Giustino and Norbert Gombos in Paris.
Sonego is competing in the Round of 16 at a Grand Slam for the first time. Prior to this event, the 25-year-old had never advanced beyond the second round at a major championship. Sonego survived a five-set battle against Emilio Gomez in his opening match, before earning straight-sets wins against Alexander Bublik and Taylor Fritz.
ORDER OF PLAY – SUNDAY 4 OCTOBER 2020
COURT PHILIPPE-CHATRIER start 11:00 am
WTA Match
Sebastian Korda v [2] Rafael Nadal
WTA Match
Hugo Gaston v [3] Dominic Thiem
COURT SUZANNE-LENGLEN start 11:00 am
WTA Match
[6] Alexander Zverev v Jannik Sinner
Lorenzo Sonego v [12] Diego Schwartzman
[6] Pierre-Hugues Herbert/Nicolas Mahut v [9] Wesley Koolhof/Nikola Mektic
Click here to view the full Roland Garros Day 8 schedule.
vs Iga Świątek 
vs Caroline Garcia 
/ Robert Farah 