Sebastian Korda was impressive on Wednesday evening in his match against fellow countryman Alex Michelsen.
A few years ago, American Sebastian Korda was ranked 15th in the world. Then injuries. Lots and lots of injuries. He had elbow surgery, back spasms and a stress fracture. His ranking now sits at 50th in the world, but don’t let that fool you into thinking there are 49 players better than him – because if healthy, he definitely has the quality to be a top 20 player again.
On Wednesday night in balmy but breezy conditions at the Delray Beach Open, Korda reminded the crowd just how good he is. Korda and Alex Michelsen put on a shot-making clinic that at times left the crowd gasping. Ryan Harrison, who was working with his compatriot, was especially excited. Delray Beach marks the third good tournament in a row for Korda.
At the risk of cursing the poor man, he is allowed am back. Since bursting onto the scene in 2020, he has shown a lot of potential. His play is creative and smart, and he has a fantastic touch on the ball. The 25-year-old has historically had some vulnerabilities with his mentality. Notably, he took a 5-2 lead over Rafael Nadal in the third set at the 2022 Masters event in Indian Wells. Nadal then won the match in a third set breaker.
Still, I wonder if the parade of injuries has given Korda a different perspective. It’s one thing to just play poorly; it’s another thing entirely to not be able to play at all because your body has failed you. What he showed on Wednesday night is someone who is ready to embrace his potential. Korda has always been a natural shot maker, but what he showed in this match against Michelsen was quiet confidence.
It’s the best I’ve seen him in years. Of course, there are no guarantees for professional athletes, but this could be the year of the Korda.
#Korda #appears #Delray #Beach