Australian Open 2023: Sebastian Korda on brutal Nick Kyrios sledge and taking on Novak Djokovic
Nick Kyrgios destroyed one of Sebastian Korda’s career highlights with a brutal five-word sledge. But two years on the rising star is ready to have the last laugh.
It took Nick Kyrgios just five brutal words to savage one of the highlights of Sebastian Korda’s career – but more than two years on Korda thinks the outspoken Aussie might’ve been on the money.
“Probably why he got destroyed,” Kyrgios tweeted in reply to a photo of a shirt Korda asked childhood hero Rafael Nadal to sign after he was pantsed 6-1 6-1 6-2 by the Spaniard at Roland Garros.
“It’s OK, everyone has their opinion,” Korda told News Corp after winning through to the second round at the Australian Open.
“Looking back at it now it probably wasn’t the best thing – but I was ranked No.220 in the world and playing my childhood idol in literally the match I’d always wanted to play.
“To get that in the fourth round, I was just soaking it all in and I took a lot of lessons from it.
“But looking at it now it was an interesting move (to ask for a signed shirt).”
Probably why he got destroyed.
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) October 5, 2020
Korda’s love for Nadal is no joke. He also named his cat ‘Rafa’ and that shirt remains proudly hung in the American’s bedroom.
“He wrote some nice things on there and he’s also said a couple of nice things about me. It was a great moment in my life,” he said.
Korda high-fived Kyrgios when they crossed paths outside a lift at Melbourne Park on Monday and there is no ill feeling over that 2020 tweet.
“Unbelievable player and he’s always really nice to me,” Korda said.
Korda, 22, held match point against Novak Djokovic in Adelaide this match after plotting to disarm the undisputed Australian Open king.
That gameplan was devised by his star-studded team that includes Andre Agassi, coach Radek Stepanek and, of course, his dad, 1998 Australian Open champion Petr Korda.
What were the tactics that pushed Djokovic to 6-7 7-6 6-4?
“I won’t (say) because as soon as I say something he’s going to know – and knowing Novak he’s going to absolutely eat it up,” Korda said.
“But it gave me a lot of belief that my gamestyle is going to hurt a lot of the top players and if I do the right things I’ll be a really, really dangerous player in the coming years.
“Even right now I know a lot of people don’t want to play me.”
What about the Agassi effect?
“He’s just the most caring, loving person that you could possibly have,” Korda said.
“He just has so much love to give, so much knowledge and he’s always so thoughtful.
“He always knows how to pick me up whenever I’m down, he’s just a great person to have in my team.”
When Korda combats Japanese qualifier Yosuke Watanuki in the second round on Wednesday he will have “revenge” on his mind.
“I actually lost to him in my first ever junior US Open. I lost to him in three sets on court 17,” Korda said.
“That was in 2016. I’ve got a great, great tennis memory.”
It took Korda a few more years to secure a sponsorship patch on his sleeve but he is now three years into a deal with Motorola.
The Kordas have long courted trophies Down Under.
Sebastian sent his dad photos of him from that 1998 run to glory in the player dining room while it’s a different swing that have delivered his sisters success.
“Both my sisters won the women’s golf Australian Open, and I won the juniors here. So there’s lot of history in our family here in Australia,” he said.
But only Radenek – who Korda calls his “adopted brother” – is touring with him this campaign.
“I have no family here except kind of my adopted brother in a way. My dad coached Radek Stepanek for basically his whole career, and now he’s my coach, so he’s like an adopted brother,” he said.
BERNARD WHO? AUSSIE MARATHON MEN SHOW FIGHTING SPIRIT
- JULIAN LINDEN AND OWEN LEONARD
Two of the Aussies who received wildcards ahead of Bernard Tomic are the early pacesetters for the marathon man of the Australian Open.
John Millman and Rinky Hijikata both came from behind to win their opening matches in five-set slugfests that each took over four hours.
Millman, 33, roared back to beat Switzerland’s Marc-Andrea Huesler 6-7 7-5 6-7 6-2 6-3 after four hours and five minutes on court three.
Not to be outdone, 21-year-old Hijikata then pulled himself off the canvas to beat German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann 4-6 4-6 6-3 7-6 6-3 after nearly four and half hours on court eight.
Hijakata is playing in only his second grand slam match after losing to Rafa Nadal in the first round of last year’s US Open and has almost doubled his modest career earnings already.
Millman’s a veteran but he looked as fresh as an ATP rookie as he fought back to claim his first five-set win in seven years in the second longest match of his career.
“It‘s awesome. They’re the ones you remember. It’s the ones where you leave absolutely everything out there. I’m pretty cooked now. I’m a little exhausted at the moment,” he said.
“But they‘re really the ones you remember. I had a lot of people come down from Brisbane to come and watch me. You can see them throughout the crowd. They’re special. Long after I stop playing tennis, they’ll be the ones that kind of stick with me.
“I thought my opponent today was really good. He‘s not a household name just yet. Don’t take anything away from that. For me, it’s as memorable as any match that I’ve played. It was a lot of fun out there. It does give you confidence.”
“After playing four-plus hours, five-set match like that, you definitely get even more confidence in the body. That moving forward is a really big plus for me.”
Millman’s next opponent could be Russian ace Daniil Medvedev if he wins his late night encounter against American Marcos Gion.
“They‘re the matches you want to play. He’s one of the few guys I’ve actually never played before. I love watching him play,” Millman said.
“It‘s a daunting prospect because you know when you play against him, you have to work for every point. He gives you no points. He covers the court extremely well. He extends the rallies.
“It‘s going to be a really tough battle. But I’ve had a couple of big matches before against some of these big players. Generally speaking, I like to test myself against them.”
Barty’s secret text as Aussie rookie claims $160k payday
- Owen Leonard
Australian bolter Olivia Gadecki had no idea she just became $160k richer with her maiden main-draw win in a grand slam – a victory she says gives her a perfect platform to “do more”.
The 20-year-old from Queensland made an emphatic return to the Australian Open after a year out due to her unvaccinated status, stunning Russian Polina Kudermetova with a 7-5 6-1 win.
Gadecki was pleasantly shocked at the monetary value of what she just achieved – replying “wow” with a wide grin when told about her winnings post-match – but was quick to insist the real value in the victory lay in sharing the moment with family.
“I didn’t even think about the payment, to be honest. My family is here, and my mom has put in a lot of time and sacrifice and dedication into my career and, I mean, money can’t buy that,” she said.
“So I’m really just happy we can share that moment together.”
Gadecki, who has been mentored by Ash Barty, said the Australian great sent her a congratulatory text immediately following her win.
“I’m sure everyone kind of knows she’s always been in my corner, and I’m so lucky to have her. Whenever I need advice or anything, I’m always able to contact her,” she said.
The wildcard was soaking what she said was an “amazing achievement” but also indicated her focus would quickly turn to proving herself as more than a one-hit wonder.
“It’s such a confidence booster making the second round of a slam … But I definitely believe that I can do more, and I’m really looking forward to my next round,” she said.
Gadecki faces Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk on Wednesday.
“I know she’s a great player, and it’s just another great opportunity to go out there and test my level and really enjoy the battle,” Gadecki said.
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