For Sebastian, bettering dad Petr Korda is a good first step
MUMBAI: Sebastian Korda has no qualms in saying that he wants to be a better tennis player than his father. That’s already quite a high benchmark—petr is the 1998 Australian Open champion, 1992 French Open runner-up, a 20-time ATP title winner and a former world No. 2. But Sebastian’s young professional career so far suggests the 20-year-old is making no audacious statement, or a cheeky one.
Last August post the resumption of the tennis calendar, Sebastian qualified for his first ATP 1000 main draw at the Western & Southern Open in New York, losing in the first round there as well as at the US Open. It was followed by an incredible run at the French Open, where the then 213thranked Sebastian became the first qualifier to enter the Round of 16 since 2011 by booking a date with his idol Rafael Nadal. A month later, the American won his maiden professional title since turning pro in 2018, beating India’s Ramkumar Ramanathan in the final of the ATP Eckental Challenger. The trend of firsts has carried onto 2021— last month Sebastian entered an ATP Tour level final at the Delray Beach Open, while on Monday he broke the top-100 barrier, jumping to 88th after winning the Quimper Challenger. That’s back-to-back Challenger titles, an ATP 250 final and 14 of the last 15 matches ending with a W.
“When the lockdown happened, we decided to do extra physical work so when the season resumed, I was in better shape and my tennis followed. So yes, 2020 was weird, but for my tennis it turned out OK.”
OK? Wouldn’t a guy just out of his teens playing his first Grand Slam main draw, battling with Nadal in his Paris living room and winning his first professional trophy within a couple of months feel a touch overwhelmed? “The French Open was definitely a breakthrough for my results in a Grand Slam, but it is a process. The experience that I gained in the US Open was equally important. I really enjoyed the first title on the Challenger Tour. It is part of a process that I believe in and so was the French Open run. Now the process continues,” he said.
“My dad has always been involved in my career and will continue to be. His experience is helpful and having him guide me is great,” Sebastian said.
Part of the deal of being a kid of a successful sporting parent— or parents, in this case—is the increased spotlight and constant comparisons. For Sebastian, touted as one of the most promising Nextgen talents on the Tour, it can only add to the expectations on him. And he knows that.
“Of course there will be comparisons if you follow the footsteps of your parents, and their success will always be a comparison,” Sebastian said. “But we grew up with that, and my parents have been great in just offering us the opportunity to play all sports and supporting us in whatever we do. Of course I want to be better than my dad was, but so does every kid and probably every dad wants their child to be better than them— like maybe in any family. My sisters and I understand it, but we are trying to find our own path.”