'Rafael Nadal made me never want to play on clay again,' Korda jokes

11/15/2024 09:32 AM

Rafael Nadal is ending his career at next week's Davis Cup Finals in Malaga. The ATP released a video of his rivals talking about Rafa's legacy and unprecedented fighting spirit. Sebastian Korda joked about his idol, saying he never wanted to play on clay again after losing to him at the 2020 Roland Garros. 

Rafa and Sebastian trained ahead of this year's Roland Garros, four years after battling at a clay Major in the fourth round. The young American made a name for himself in Paris in 2020, qualifying for only his second Major event and reaching the fourth round! 

The young gun faced the 12-time Roland Garros champion Nadal and suffered a 6-1, 6-1, 6-2 loss in an hour and 55 minutes. The legend denied five of six break points and added eight return games to his tally, controlling the scoreboard and moving over the top in style. 

The American made a reliable start against his idol, earning two break chances in the first game of the encounter. The Spaniard denied them with powerful serves and delivered a break in the second game after the rival's backhand mistake. Rafa closed the third game with a volley winner and grabbed another break in the next one after Sebastian's double fault. 

The king of clay extended his streak with a forehand winner in the fifth game, moving closer to a bagel. Korda avoided it with a hold at love at 0-5 before Nadal wrapped up the opener in the next one, taking a 6-1 lead after 37 minutes. Rafa produced a clinical serving in the second set, losing four points in his games and mounting the pressure on the other side. 

Sebastian Korda was asked about his signed Rafa Nadal jersey in his press conference today at Roland Garros: “The signed Rafa shirt is hanging in my room” That’s a true fan ❤️ pic.twitter.com/i8KBy2KKgr

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 29, 2023

The 12-time champion delivered a break in the opening game and served well for 3-1. Nadal welcomed Korda's backhand error in the fifth game to clinch another break and extend the advantage. The Spaniard secured another break at 5-1, wrapping up the set in style and forging a 6-1, 6-1 advantage in swift 69 minutes. 

The young gun stepped in at the beginning of the third set, earning a break in the first game and overcoming deuces in the next one to move 2-0 in front. Rafa pulled the break back in the fourth game and turned the tables. The legend secured a break at love in game six to move 4-2 in front before fending off two break points in the next one. 

Sebastian served to stay in the match at 2-5, and Rafa fired a forehand down the line return winner on a match point, sealing the deal and sailing into the quarter-final. Their second and last duel came at Indian Wells in 2022, with Nadal overcoming a 5-2 deficit in the decider in a 6-2, 1-6, 7-6  triumph.