Sebastian Korda could have won over fans at the Miami Open by virtue of being American, but his sportsmanship earned him extra brownie points on Tuesday.
In his Round of 16 victory over Gael Monfils, Korda agreed to replay a point he won before rain interrupted proceedings at Hardrock Stadium. Serving 4-3 in the third set, Korda won a point when Monfils’ return was outside the baseline. During the sequence, the Frenchman expressed unhappiness over the slippery nature of the surface.
When the players returned to the court, Korda could have continued at 15-0 in his pursuit of a 5-3 lead. Instead, he urged the chair umpire not to count the final point before the rain interruption. The act of sportsmanship earned Korda a ton of praise from fans and analysts alike in Miami, and rightfully so. He was under no obligation to replay the point, but did so anyway out of respect for Monfils.
That’s not all — Korda agreed to Monfils’ request that the lights be turned on at the start of the third set. The request led to a 10-minute stoppage, which many felt worked in favor of the older Monfils, giving him a much-needed breather. Per ATP rules, both players must agree that the lights be turned on unless the umpire deems the conditions aren’t suitable for tennis. Again, Korda was class personified.
Korda ultimately won the match, setting up a quarterfinal match against Novak Djokovic. He was deservedly given a rousing ovation, and those cheering him on from the stands included his legendary father, Petr Korda, the 1998 Australian Open champion, and his older sister, Nelly Korda, a former World No. 1 golfer.
He became the youngest American to reach multiple quarterfinals matches in Miami since Andy Roddick.
