Sebastian Korda remembers when he was a junior operating across the grounds of the Mubadala Citi DC Open. His father, Petr Korda, coached Radek Stepanek, the 2011 champion
Now ‘Sebi’ will not be operating across the lounge and locker room, however attracting followers to the courtroom together with his highly effective recreation. The 23-year-old is the eighth seed this week on the ATP 500 occasion.
“Washington needs to be one in all my favorite stops undoubtedly on tour, simply type of being right here as a 12, 13 and 14-year-old child with my dad and Radek Stepanek,” Korda informed ATPTour.com. “Simply to type of expertise every part was actually cool. Being within the locker room for the primary time and simply being across the gamers, I’ve numerous nice reminiscences from this event. It is undoubtedly very particular.”
On Sunday, the American was cooling down on a motorcycle within the gamers’ fitness center when he seen a photograph of his mentor, former World No. 1 Andre Agassi, on signage exterior.
“I despatched him a selfie with me and him with the plaque within the again,” Korda mentioned. “He is only a very particular individual to me. He is clearly type of tennis royalty in a method and simply to have somebody like that in my nook, I believe it is fairly particular.”
Agassi coincidentally performed Korda’s father, Petr, within the 1991 Washington closing. Agassi received the match 6-3, 6-4 for one in all his 5 titles on the event.
“I am fairly positive Andre was taking part in evening matches each single day and my dad was taking part in first on at like one o’clock when it was actually sizzling,” Korda mentioned, cracking fun. “And I believe Andre simply smoked my dad within the closing.”
Agassi has change into a priceless information for Korda. The 60-time tour-level titlist usually watches his mentee’s matches and offers suggestions.
“He sees life differently than everybody else. He is only a very constructive, outgoing individual, has an enormous, huge coronary heart. He’ll do completely something for the people who he is shut with,” Korda mentioned. “He is only a actually nice human being. Simply the best way that he sees tennis in a method may be very completely different. He thinks about various things from different individuals. Form of what he can do to get a much bigger benefit in tennis.”
That is the primary event of Korda’s hard-court swing. The floor sometimes caters to the American’s highly effective baseline recreation.
“I really like taking part in on the onerous courts, particularly within the U.S.,” Korda mentioned. “I believe it is a lot enjoyable to mess around right here. Every part’s tremendous shut. All of the followers are nice. It is simply actually snug being right here in a rustic you grew up in and every part’s simply tremendous simple.”
Korda started his season on a excessive by reaching an ATP 250 closing in Adelaide, holding championship level towards Novak Djokovic earlier than falling brief. He then superior to the Australian Open quarter-finals with wins over Daniil Medvedev and Hubert Hurkacz alongside the best way.
After retiring within the quarter-finals because of an elbow damage, Korda didn’t play till April in Madrid. He’s excited for the remainder of the season.
“Began off nice and there was type of a velocity bump within the center, however there are issues that you just type of must undergo as a tennis participant,” Korda mentioned. “You be taught from them and you retain going. I am grateful for my journey proper now and I could not be happier to be again taking part in to a excessive stage once more.”