Korda into first ATP final at Delray Beach Open

Sebastian Korda, the 20-year-old American who burst onto the pro scene with a run to the Roland Garros fourth round this fall, is now through to his first ATP final in just his fifth singles main-draw appearance.

Not far from his Bradenton, Florida, home, Korda has more than doubled his career ATP win total in winning four matches at the 2021 Delray Beach Open by VITACOST.com. After taking out South Korea’s Soonwoo Kwon in straight sets in Round 1, he took out No. 5 seed Tommy Paul then No. 2 seed John Isner in his next two matches, going three sets in both all-American matchups at the ATP 250 event.

In his first career ATP semifinal, Korda was crisp against an in-form Cameron Norrie, taking out the Briton, 6-3, 7-5, despite a late wobble as he served for the match at 5-4 in the second.

“I’m fired up right now. I couldn’t be happier,” Korda said on-court after his semifinal win, later adding, “I’m super happy with the way I stayed aggressive and played the whole match.”

Korda has some major fire power in his camp, with his father, Petr, winning the 1998 Australian Open under the Czech flag, and eight-time Grand Slam champ Andre Agassi serving as a recent training partner… not to mention his sisters, LPGA golf stars Jessica and Nelly Korda.

The 2018 Australian Open boys’ singles champion won his first pro-level singles title at the ATP Challenger event in Eckental, Germany, in November, backing up his surprise run on the Paris red clay, which ended at the hands of eventual champion Rafael Nadal. Now much closer to home, he will take on Hubert Hurkacz on at 3 p.m. on Wednesday for his first ATP title.

Americans Ryan and Christian Harrison are also seeking a title on Wednesday in the Delray men’s doubles event. Christian, who underwent eight surgeries in his career, also notched his best ATP result this week in reaching the singles semis, where he fell to Hurkacz.