By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday March 12, 2022
The impossible dream didn’t come true for American Sebastian Korda on Saturday at Indian Wells, as a double-break lead faded into oblivion against Rafael Nadal, who stretched his career-best season-opening win streak to 16 with a 6-2, 1-6, 7-6(3) victory to reach the third round.
But all is not for naught for the 21-year-old rising American. Korda was quick to talk about the positives after a brutal defeat.
“Yeah, it sucks,” Korda says. “But it is what it is. I mean, yeah, I played a really good match, brought out the best in me, put him in a tough situation. But he does what he does best and always comes back and fights. Yeah, I mean, it sucks, but overall very happy.”
Korda practiced with Nadal prior to the start of the tournament, and said that he was able to play a close set with Nadal – something that he hadn’t done previously.
“Every single time we practice, he kind of destroys me a little bit,” he said. “This time was a close set. Every single time I practice with him or play with him, I feel I'm getting better and better. Yeah, it's progress. He's one of the greatest players of all time right now. He's super hot. Hasn't lost a match this year. To kind of push him to the edge was awesome. Shows a lot of my game, how dangerous it can be against tough opponents.”
Korda: Nothing But Positives
Korda drops to 0-2 lifetime against Nadal, but his performance on Saturday was a far cry from his 6-1, 6-1, 6-2 loss to the Spaniard at Roland-Garros in 2020.
He says he only sees positives from his near miss, in spite of the fact that he squandered a big opportunity to earn the biggest win of his career.
“I don't think there's any negatives,” he said. “He's the best player in the world right now, one of the best. He's definitely got the best record. Hasn't lost a match this year. Three tournaments, three titles. Not very many negatives when you're that close against someone like him. 21 Grand Slams. Arguably one of the greatest of all time.
“To be that close, it's a lot of positives. It shows me that my game is going to hurt a lot of people. People are going to get nervous. People are going to get worried. Yeah, just overall a lot of positives from it.”
“He'll always be my idol in tennis, he'll be one of the reasons why I picked up a tennis racquet,” he said.