Sebastian Korda staged an impressive return after a 3-month injury hiatus at the 2023 Madrid Open but ultimately fell to Hugo Grenier in a tense two-setter.
Tennis fans around the world eagerly awaited the return of No. 22 seed Sebastian Korda to the ATP Tour. After a stellar start to the season, which included a nail-biting Adelaide 1 final against Novak Djokovic and a quarterfinal run at the Australian Open, Korda was forced to take a lot of time off with a right wrist injury.
The American prodigy's comeback match against French qualifier Hugo Grenier on Court 6 showcased his fighting spirit and sheer determination, but ended in a heartbreaking loss after a grueling battle that lasted two hours and 21 minutes.
Korda's performance on the court displayed no signs of rust as he engaged in an enthralling battle with Grenier. The first set saw both players trading blows as the Frenchman was up a break twice, but the American was able to come back everytime to force a first-set tie-break.
In the tiebreak, Grenier managed to snatch the first set 7-6(5), capitalizing on a few unforced errors by Korda. Undeterred by the setback, the American, who was called 'the most talented of the upcoming Americans by renowned coach Rick Macci, continued to dig deep and rally in the second set, refusing to give in to the pressure.
Korda showcased his immense fighting spirit as he was even a break up in the second set and also saved multiple match points in the second set tiebreak, with the crowd cheering him on. However, Grenier displayed nerves of steel and held his ground, ultimately clinching the tiebreak 7-6(7) and winning the match.
Despite the loss, Korda's unwavering determination and ability to push Grenier to the brink was a testament to his mental strength and that even after three months away from the ATP Tour, he's able to come back and show great level.
It is evident that Korda has used his time off the court productively, and he will now focus on the upcoming action, which in his case is the 2023 Italian Open in Rome, where he will surely want to get back to winning ways.
Grenier, on the other hand, should be commended for his outstanding performance, as he managed to hold his own against a seeded player. The world no. 128 can now focus on his third-round match which will be against a winner of the meeting between the 13th-seeded Alexander Zverev and Roberto Carballes Baena.
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