Twenty-eight years have passed since Petr Korda’s ride in Paris this year. At that time, the 24-year-old young Czech reached the finals of Roland Garros, where he lost to Jim Courier. Now, Cordu’s 20-year-old son Sebastian, a United States national team, is winning the clay grand slam.
Americans are ecstatic. Four years ago, one of the local prominent experts and former players, Brad Gilbert, predicted: “Sebastian is America’s greatest talent.”
However, the journey from the junior years among adult wolfhounds is often difficult. And it was no different with young Korda. This year, however, a native of Bradenton, Florida, is already showing what he is capable of and how huge his potential is.
At the recent US Open in the first round, he picked up a set for star Canadian Denis Shapoval. And the transition to orange pulp kicked him even more.
He passed the qualification in the French capital without losing the set. In the first round, he eliminated the experienced Italian Andreas Seppi, a former world eighteen, and recorded the premier grand slam victory.
On Wednesday, he highlighted the sensational campaign when he convincingly played in four sets the best American of today, the famous John Isner.
Have Americans finally found a tennis savior? It’s too early for the courts, but the overseas media certainly don’t spare superlatives. Korda himself from Paris reports that the desired success “emotionally” shot him to the moon “.
“I’m very happy for the way I played, the way I stayed calm. The parents and sisters watched the whole match. Everyone is absolutely excited,” he said after a lifetime victory.
He doesn’t have a father in Paris, Petr stayed at home due to covid’s restrictions and is a fan of his son from television. “He doesn’t travel much with me, but we’re in constant contact almost all the time,” explained the tall, six-foot-tall young man.
Dad grew a few inches years ago, but he still has something to look up for in tennis.
The winner of the 1998 Australian Open is an indispensable and bottomless source of experience for him.
“Dad is a huge help to me, he oversees everything. We’re still on the court together. I don’t think I would be anything without him, I wouldn’t be a hint where I am now. I’m very grateful for him,” he described moved in Paris.
And he thanked another Czech. Fitness specialist Mark Všetíček, with whom he has been cooperating since the end of last season.
With him, Korda took full advantage of the coronavirus pause and worked hard to take an important step forward. At his height, he had a minimum of muscle mass, weighing just over 70 kilograms.
That is now changing, and the owner of the excellent two-handed backhand is gradually gaining muscle.
“Basically, it builds my body the way we think it should look like. It helped me incredibly, the results only confirm it. In addition, he is a very positive person, we have a lot of fun at work,” said the tennis player, who is already in the live charts. moved from 213th place to 161st place in the world.
Everything seems to be connected. Všetíček once helped Kord the Elder, and together they led Radek Štěpánek together.
And it was Štěpánek’s match against Novak Djokovic at the US Open 2009 that definitely confirmed Sebastian’s decision to devote himself fully to tennis.
“Radek played a night match against Novak. It was crowded and I was excited. It seemed like the coolest thing in the world. We came home and I said it was exactly what I wanted to do. I fell in love, “The young Korda recently recalled how tennis’ s passion ultimately defeated hockey.
In Paris, he can definitely think about advancing to the round of 16. In the third round, the Spaniard Pedro Martínez, another tennis player who is not yet in the absolute top, is waiting for him today. The clay specialist should have the upper hand over the rancher, but Korda warns his juice.
“I’m very tall, I like to go to the net, so any fast surface is best for me. But I grew up on clay. I know how to play it.”
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