Sebastian Korda won his first-ever Australian Open match in emphatic circumstances to continue the golden run of his family in Australia.
Twenty-four years after his father Petr hoisted the Australian Open trophy, Sebastian Korda has pulled off a huge upset in his first-ever match at the tournament, ousting British World No. 12 Cameron Norrie in straight sets.
Continuing the Korda family’s love affair with Australia, the 21-year-old American, who is world No. 43, had his foot on Norrie’s throat from the outset, taking out the match’s first three games and never letting up in a 6-3, 6-0, 6-4 win.
As well as his father’s 1998 victory at Melbourne Park, Korda’s superstar golfing sisters, world number one Nelly and Jessica, have both won the women’s Australian Open in their sport.
Korda’s win was all the more remarkable given he tested positive for Covid-19 after arriving in Australia earlier this month.
Now that he’s back fit and firing, the 21-year-old is tipped to continue creating headaches for his rivals in Melbourne and beyond.
“I think there’s a top ten player in the waiting with Korda,” said retired doubles specialist Colin Fleming in commentary for Stan Sport.
“Mentally, he’s so impressive. He’s calm and composed, he loves the big stage. Tactically, he’s good.
“He’s certainly one to keep an eye on at this year’s Australian Open.”
After losing the first set, things didn’t get any easier for Norrie, who failed to take a single game away from Korda in what ended as an embarrassing second set for the Brit.
Despite his imposing height, the 6ft5 American moved around the court with ease, bamboozling his highly fancied opponent, who is coming off a stellar 2021.
While Norrie attempted a late fightback, it appeared from the second set he was destined to finish as another casualty of a dismal week for British sportspeople on Aussie shores.
The Korda family truly thrives at Australian Opens.
Petr Korda took out the 1998 tournament in what was the only grand slam victory of his career, and 20 years later, Sebastian won the junior title at the 2018 Australian Open.
Sebastian’s sisters, Jessica and Nelly, are LGPA professionals and have each taken out top honours at the golf Australian Open, in 2012 and 2019, respectively.
Nelly, the younger of the two, had a career-best year in 2021, headlined by winning both Olympic gold and the women’s PGA championship and she is currently the top-ranked women’s golfer in the world.
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