Sebastian Korda, once ranked World No. 15, is making headlines again with a remarkable tennis comeback after battling a right shin stress fracture that sidelined him during much of the grass court season and part of the American hard court swing. The 25-year-old, currently No. 86 in the PIF ATP Rankings, secured his place in the quarterfinals of the Winston-Salem Open on Wednesday by defeating Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-4.
With fellow American stars Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz grabbing the spotlight this spring and summer, Korda’s journey back has gone largely under the radar. Despite limited preparation time for the U.S. Open, he demonstrated resilience and skill to advance as the No. 11 seed in Winston-Salem.
Key Match Highlights and Upcoming Challenges
Korda’s win over Majchrzak was marked by a strong serving performance, with an 82.1 percent win rate on his first serve and flawless defense against all six break points he faced. Reflecting on the match, Korda described it as unpredictably intense.
“It was a rollercoaster today, I was just waiting my turn,”
he said.
“He was playing some great tennis, so I was just waiting to see if his level dipped a little bit. Luckily, I played a solid second game in the second set and started playing a lot better.”
—Sebastian Korda, Professional Tennis Player
Next, Korda is set to meet No. 13 seed Miomir Kecmanovic, who impressed with a swift 6-3, 6-1 victory over Italy’s No. 3 seed Luciano Darderi in just 58 minutes. The Serbian competitor Kecmanovic looks to maintain his momentum in the quarterfinal clash.
Other Notable Performances at Winston-Salem
In other quarterfinal developments, Serbia’s Hamad Medjedovic continued his upset streak by defeating No. 4 seed Gabriel Diallo of Canada 6-4, 6-2, following his earlier win over Britain’s No. 15 seed Jacob Fearnley. Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics also surprised spectators by beating No. 14 seed Roberto Bautista Agut from Spain in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3.
Among another French showdown, No. 9 Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard overcame No. 8 Alexandre Muller 6-3, 6-2. The tournament’s later matches will include a battle between Italy’s No. 5 seed Lorenzo Sonego and Spain’s No. 12 seed Jaume Munar.
Implications of Korda’s Advancement and What Lies Ahead
Korda’s successful progression to the quarterfinals signifies a hopeful turning point as he works to regain his position on the tour following his injury struggles. His performance at Winston-Salem may boost his confidence heading into the U.S. Open, offering renewed optimism for the rest of the season. Facing an in-form Kecmanovic will be a significant test of his competitive comeback and fitness.