MELBOURNE: Sebastian Korda stunned two-time losing finalist Daniil Medvedev at the Australian Open on Friday, adding the Russian to a growing list of top seeds crashing out early.
The 31st-ranked American, son of 1998 Australian Open champion Petr Korda, blasted past the seventh seed 7-6 (9/7), 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) on Rod Laver Arena to race into the last 16.
Korda’s upset teed up a clash with Polish 10th seed Hubert Hurkacz – who battled past Canada’s Denis Shapovalov 7-6 (7/3), 6-4, 1-6, 4-6, 6-3 – for a place in the quarter-finals.
“An unbelievable match, I sort of knew what I had to do and I stuck with it even when I was going up and down with the emotions,” said the 22-year-old Korda, adding that his game plan was “just go for it”.
“I’m thrilled right now, I played amazing.”
Medvedev was a losing finalist at the last two Australian Opens, to Novak Djokovic in 2021 and then in a demoralising five-set defeat 12 months ago against Rafael Nadal after leading by two sets.
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He was attempting to become only the fourth man in the Open era to reach three consecutive Melbourne Park finals after Djokovic, Mats Wilander and Ivan Lendl.
But that quest is now over as he joined defending champion Nadal, second seed Casper Ruud and eighth seed Taylor Fritz as high-profile first-week casualties at the season-opening Grand Slam.
Djokovic remains in the hunt for a 10th title, but has a hamstring injury and confessed on Thursday he was “worried” it could derail his tournament.
Korda displayed his credentials when he pushed Djokovic to the brink in the Adelaide International final this month, earning a championship point before the Serb rallied to win in three close sets.
The Florida native bounced back to claim a pair of victories in Melbourne against Cristian Garin and Yosuke Watanuki before meeting former world number one Medvedev.
Korda started aggressively, earning four break points in an 11-minute opening game before putting one away to take an early edge.
The Russian had minor treatment on his right hand at the changeover before Korda consolidated for 2-0.
The American dominated from the baseline in some lung-busting rallies and broke again for 4-1, before the Russian came roaring back with two breaks to level it up at 4-4.
It went to a thrilling tiebreak with Korda converting on his third set point after an 85-minute slugfest.
Korda, coached by former Czech star Radek Stepanek, broke early again in the second set with Medvedev having no answers this time.
He began the third in the same vein, breaking immediately as the Russian wilted under the onslaught.
Medvedev again rallied to take it to another tiebreak before exiting the tournament at the earliest stage since 2018.
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