#NextGenATP American Sebastian Korda has enjoyed a breakthrough 2021 season, rising from outside the Top 100 in the FedEx ATP Rankings at the start of the year to a career-high No. 38 in October.
It has been a year of firsts for the 21-year-old, with Korda capturing his maiden ATP Challenger Tour title in January, before clinching his first-tour level trophy in Parma in May. The American has also earned two Top 10 victories against Diego Schwartzman and Roberto Bautista Agut, while he also advanced to the fourth round at Wimbledon.
These results have seen Korda book his spot at Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan, to be played from 9-13 November.
A Morning With American Star Sebastian Korda
On competing alongside his idols such as Rafael Nadal on Tour, the youngster said: “It is super cool. All the players you watch on TV are all here. To practise and play with them is super cool and comfortable out here and I am having fun.”
Korda has tennis pedigree in his family, with his father former World No. 2 Petr Korda. The pair has worked closely together since the American first picked up a racquet aged 10, which the World No. 39 believes has been crucial in his development.
“My dad is a secret weapon in a way,” Korda said. “He has been around the Tour a super long time. He has made it to the top, won a Grand Slam and coached someone who has made it to the Top 10, so he knows what to do. The tough decisions he makes look easy sometimes, so I am super grateful to have him in my corner.”
In 2018, Korda demonstrated his potential when he won the Australian Open Boys’ singles title, becoming junior World No. 1 in the process. The Delray Beach finalist’s victory in Melbourne came 20 years after his father had triumphed in the men’s singles event in 1998.
Having now climbed into the Top 40 just under three years later, Korda is part of an exciting group of #NextGenATP stars who will compete alongside him in Milan. But he insists he is purely focusing on his own game as he continues to learn the tricks of the trade.
“There are a lot of good players coming up right now,” Korda said. “You have to be so mentally focused throughout the whole match. One point, one game, you could lose the match easily. You have to grind for every point and figure things out.”