Sebastian Korda recorded his first-ever win over a Top 5 player, defeating Russian Daniil Medvedev at the Shanghai Masters in China on Sunday.
Korda, the 26th seed, saved three set points in the first set en route to a 7-6 (8), 6-2 win at the ATP Masters 1000 event over Medvedev, the second seed.
With the win, Korda moved into the fourth round at a Masters 1000 tournament for just the second time. And it was a fulfilling win in what has been a frustrating season for the 23-year-old American, who was 22-13 on the year entering Shanghai but missed significant time with a wrist injury.
“It’s been a very difficult year for sure,” Korda said. “I had a long pause on my year for three months, especially when I was playing some of the best tennis of my career so far. It was difficult, but it’s a long journey and I’m happy with the way I played today. It’s definitely one of the biggest victories in my career for sure.”
Medvedev didn’t break Korda’s serve, while Korda capitalized on two of three break chances. Korda recorded 32 winners against 13 unforced errors, while Medvedev tallied 17 and nine, respectively.
“We played really good tennis from the beginning,” Korda said. “We had some long rallies. I’m just really happy to get that first set under my belt and then it was just a matter of getting into one of his service games and hopefully taking it home after.”
In the fourth round, Korda will face 20th seed Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina, who topped Marton Fucsovics of Hungary 3-6, 6-4, 7-5.
Also advancing to the fourth round were eighth-seeded Casper Ruud of Norway, who defeated American Christoper Eubanks, the 29th seed, 6-4, 6-2; No. 6 Janik Sinner of Italy, who came back to beat Sebastian Baez of Argentina 3-6, 6-3, 6-2; 16th seed Hubert Hurcasz, a 6-4, 6-4 winner over Yu Hsiou Hsu of Taiwan; and 19th-seeded American Ben Shelton, who eliminated Russian Roman Safiullin in three sets.
In second-round play, Lorenzo Sonego of Italy ousted 10th-seeded Frances Tiafoe in the continuation of a suspended match 2-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Also moving on to their third round were 13th seed Karen Khachanov of Russia, 19th seed Grigor Dmitrov of Bulgaria, Diego Schwartzman of Argentina and American J.J. Wolf.
–Field Level Media