Melbourne (Australia) (EFE).- The American Sebastian Korda (29), who beat the Polish Hubert Hurkacz (10) in five sets, will face the Russian Karen Khachanov (18), executioner of the Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka (31), the first quarterfinals of the Australian Open.
Korda scored the most important victory of his career against the tenth seed after taking a tight duel that resembled a roller coaster 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 1-6 and 7-6(7 ).
“I could not have achieved this without you, you have pushed me here,” said the American to a Rod Laver Arena that witnessed one of the best duels of this edition of the tournament.
In his previous match, the American won over the crowd at Melbourne Park’s main stadium after beating current finalist Daniil Medvedev (7) in three sets.
The Pole was able to withstand the pressure and save two break points when the score was tied at 5-5 in the final set.
In the tie-break, which started evenly, the son of Czech tennis player Petr Korda scored six points in a row that gave him an advantage that would prove definitive to earn an unprecedented ticket to a quarterfinal in slam competition.
Korda is the third American to qualify for the quarterfinals in Melbourne after Andy Roddick made it past the round of 16 in 2010 and joined compatriots Tennis Sandgren and Frances Tiafoe.
His next rival, the Russian Khachanov, did not have to wear himself out as much as in the previous round against the American Tiafoe, after beating the Japanese Nishioka 6-0, 6-0, 7-6(4).
“In the first two sets I didn’t know what was happening but it’s never easy when the score is so easy,” said Khachanov who was brilliant on serve after keeping 93% of points won with firsts, as well as 15 ‘aces’.
The Japanese, who had won the nine sets played in previous rounds, did not find a rhythm in the first two sets that lasted 46 minutes and only won two points in the second set.
The first quarterfinal matchup between Korda and Khachanov will take place this Tuesday in one of the main stadiums in Melbourne Park.
