It never ceases to amaze. After eliminating Daniil Medvedev in the previous round, the American Sebastian Korda, 31st in the world, qualified for his first Grand Slam quarter-final by beating the Pole Hubert Hurkacz (11th) in the super tie-break of the fifth set 3- 6, 6-3, 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (10/7), Sunday at the Australian Open.
“I’m a little superstitious: it was the towel that saved me. Each time I went to wipe myself off, I then won the point. She’s my new friend! “Launched Korda after a great tie-break that could have tipped in favor of his opponent.
The Pole had indeed equalized at 6-6 by winning his white service and had seemed to take the advantage in the decisive game. Then Korda broke away 7/3 but Hurkacz fielded four runs to get back to 7/7.
His comeback stopped there and it was Korda who concluded on his first match point with a superb backhand long line winner, after a long exchange from the baseline.
He then appeared very calm to answer Jim Courier’s first questions on the court. “When I’m in the shower, I’m going to celebrate! “, assured the 22-year-old player whose father Petr won the Australian Major in 1998, two years before his birth.
Korda will face the Russian Karen Khachanov (20th) for a place in the last four. For his first appearance in Melbourne last year, Korda was knocked out in the third round by Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta. He had already played in two round of 16 Grand Slams, in 2020 at Roland-Garros and in 2021 at Wimbledon.