For the first time since 1996, there are more than five Americans in the top 20 of the ATP and WTA rankings. That’s the breadth of talent American tennis is crying out for. A period of sustained dominance by the Williams sisters and Bryan brothers on the doubles tour meant the U.S. kept winning Grand Slam titles, but questions remained about depth. With Coco Gauff winning last year’s U.S. Open title and Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton, Tommy Paul, Jessica Pegula, Danielle Collins, Emma Navarro, Madison Keys and Sebastian Korda making up the other nine athletes in the top 20, the home crowd has reason to be optimistic. Here at Last Word On Tennis, we take a look at Korda’s chances of success.
Sebastian Korda at the US Open
To be honest, Korda has never been particularly successful at the US Open. Maybe it’s the pressure of the home crowd, the five-set format, or end-of-season fatigue. Whatever the case, he hasn’t yet reached his potential on the Grand Slam stage, especially in New York. In four appearances, he’s lost in the first round three times and reached the second round just once. Given his enormous talent, the question is: why?
A learning curve
Korda is only 24 years old. He may not be a young man in the tennis world, but he lacks experience on the big stage. He has also had to deal with many injuries. His wrist injury, which he sustained in early 2023, was particularly unfortunate.
He had just reached the final of Adelaide and the fourth round of the Australian Open, defeating Daniil Medvedev three sets to nil. On his return, he reached the final of the Queens Club, but was knocked out in the first round at Wimbledon just two weeks later. That was a bitter pill to swallow, especially for identity reasons. In the lead-up to SW19, he spoke optimistically about his grass court game, calling it his strength and boasting of being a challenger. He talked a lot, but he didn’t follow through. Since those comments, he has been knocked out in the first round twice.
A recent upswing
But his recent form suggests he should be taken seriously at this year’s US Open. He was so impressive in Washington, losing just two sets all week to secure his second singles title. It’s not unusual in tennis to have a surprise winner – the key is whether he can back up his performance. Korda did just that. If anything, his run to the final in Montreal was more impressive than his title in Washington.
He defeated some top players, including none other than world number four Alexander Zverev 7-6 1-6 6-4. Losing the second set 6-1 and then coming back again showed a great attitude, as others would have buckled under such a sudden change of momentum. While Alexei Popyrin defeated him 7-6 6-3, Korda seemed to run out of steam in the final. For a man who has not always made it to the final of the decisive round, this is perhaps no great surprise.
How does his playing style compare to his competitors before the US Open?
Playstyle
Stylistically, Sebastian Korda is one of the most pleasant players on the tour. Despite his 6’5″ frame, his movements are flawless. He glides across the court, much like Roger Federer did. He stands on his toes when he split steps and moves back to the middle, everything is so elegant. His shots are smooth and effortless, his swing is a joy to watch.
The American has never been criticized for his technique. His game hardly has any weaknesses. However, his mental strength and stamina were sometimes a problem.
He can get knocked out of a match from a strong position quite often. If his A-game isn’t working, he offers little resistance. On a good day, he can beat most on tour, but his base level needs to improve. As with all sports, the ability to win when you’re not playing at the highest level is key. The floor is more important than the ceiling.
How far can he go?
Korda’s possible path to the final looks like this: Corentin Moutet, Thomas Machac, Alejandro Tabilo, Carlos Alcaraz, Alex de Minaur, Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner.
On his current form, the first three rounds are winnable. However, he has a terrible habit of underperforming in these Grand Slam matches. However, he is entering the best form of his career and we may see a better version of him on the big stage.
After that, things look incredibly difficult. Although he has improved recently, he is still not able to keep up with the current top three.
A place in the round of 16 would be a step forward for Sebastian Korda. It doesn’t sound like a glamorous result, but for a player who has repeatedly failed in the five-set format, it would be a break in the disappointment streak. He has the ability to do it; it’s all about the mental game.
Photo credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports
