BREAKING NEWS: American hotshot Sebastian Korda delivers HUGE upset to knock 2022 finalist Daniil Medvedev out of the Australian Open – with 22-year-old reaching fourth round in Melbourne for first time in his career
Sebastian Korda served up the most impressive win of his career to knock two-time finalist Daniil Medvedev out of the Australian Open.
The 22-year-old, ranked 31 in the world, had never previously made the fourth round in Melbourne but it rarely ever looked in doubt after a commanding start ended in a 7-6, 6-3, 7-6 win.
Medvedev, who needed a medical time-out earlier in the contest, struggled to find any rhythm that took him to the final in 2021 and 2022, with US hotshot Korda ruthless.
Sebastian Korda, 22, delivered the most impressive win of his career at the Australian Open
The 22-year-old American stunned former world No 1 Daniil Medvedev to win 7-6. 6-3, 7-6
Medvedev needed a medical time-out during a match where he found himself overwhelmed
It was a nip-and-tuck opener with Korda racing into a 4-1 lead following two early breaks of serve.
Medvedev would respond with two breaks of his own and it forced a thrilling first-set tiebreak which, after many back and forths, saw Korda take it 9-7 in a set that lasted 85 minutes.
Korda had a 0-1 record prior to Friday morning against Russian high-flyer Medvedev, losing their only other meeting in 2021 at the Paris Masters.
The American’s slice game from deep by the baseline caused havoc for the big-hitting Medvedev and Korda, despite his inexperience at Slams, looked in cruise control.
Toying with his opponent he raced into a 3-0 lead in the second set, holding off a break point opportunity in the second set’s first game to do so.
Korda’s first serve was beginning to become increasingly erratic – he was at this time landing just 52 per cent of them in – but he would take the second set 6-3, putting him a set away from a first ever fourth round appearance in Melbourne.
Korda looked set for a rout when up 4-0 in the third but he stumbled and Medvedev, a former world No 1, responded to level it up at 4-4. Both men held serve to force a tiebreak but in the end the American stuck to his guns and delivered the finest win of his career.
He will face Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz next.
‘Thanks for the atmosphere and support, you guys were awesome,’ Korda said afterwards.
‘That was an unbelievable match. I kind of knew what I needed to do and I stuck with it when the emotions were up and down. It’s an amazing match for me.’
Asked what his game-plan was to combat Medvedev dictating from the baseline he added simply: ‘Just go for it!’
He continued: ‘I love playing Australia, my family loves playing Australia so it’s super awesome.’
Advertisement