Sebastian Korda has announced that he will join his idol Rafael Nadal in the Nike family. Korda, 22, made the announcement via Instagram and reflected on his season. Korda, number 34 in the world, has not won a title this year, but last month he was runner-up in Gijón and Antwerp.
Now that Korda is part of the Nike family, he is determined to do great things. «Insanely excited and grateful to officially join the @nike family! I can’t wait to make some great memories representing this amazing brand.
My 2022 season is over. A long year with many lessons learned. Thank you all for the support throughout the year, I can’t wait to start again. Let’s make it special. I’m ready,» Korda wrote on Instagram. In March, Korda faced Nadal in the second round of the Indian Wells Masters.
Nadal, who was undefeated on the year at the time, ran away with a 6-2, 1-6, 7-6(3) win. After easily winning the second set, Korda went two breaks ahead in the third set and held a 5-2 lead. Korda then suffered an impressive collapse when Nadal won in the third set tie break.
After the match, Nadal opened up and admitted that he did not know how the victory had escaped him. «I don’t know how I won the game. I was very lucky because I probably played one of my worst games of the year. Sebastian played well, he was very aggressive and it wasn’t easy to control the ball from him.»
I didn’t serve well and he put pressure on me on the return. My forehand didn’t hurt him, but I still managed to win.»
Steve Flink talks about Nadal
Speaking on the Court-Side with Beilinson Tennis podcast, journalist Steve Flink stated that the rest of the court could prove dangerous for Rafael Nadal.
«Rafa talked about the need to play more matches, he talked about getting to Italy early to play practice sets, but practice sets are nothing like playing real matches. It just helps you, but it’s not the same,» he said. Flink.
«So it was unfortunate that I didn’t have more games in Paris before Turin to give myself a better chance because the pitch is so deep. It’s going to be a very close event and both groups of four players each are going to be very strong.
So it’s going to cost Rafa because he’s always been the least comfortable inside the house. Might as well prove me wrong. He is one of those guys that no matter how many negative comments he makes, ‘doubt’ is one of his favorite words, it overcomes his doubts.
I still think we’ll see him come in with the usual fighting spirit. So it will still be hard to beat, but I don’t like the conditions. It tends to be fast in Turin,» he added.
