Sebastian Korda withdrew from the 2023 Winston-Salem Open, shortly after his quarterfinal win over Richard Gasquet.
Playing an ATP 250 tournament shortly before a Grand Slam starts is always tricky, and the young American knows it. However, he didn't have many hard-court wins behind his belt, and that's why it was good for him to take part, and build some confidence by winning matches.
At the 2023 US Open, Korda will be certainly one of the dark horses, and that's also probably why he has made the decision to withdraw from the 2023 Winston-Salem Open, despite winning his quarterfinal match.
During the gripping third set in his 4-6, 6-1, 7-6(7) win over Gasquet, Korda sustained an ankle injury that would lead to his withdrawal from the Winston-Salem Open. The decision didn't come easy, especially given the momentum he had garnered in North Carolina.
"Tough decision to pull out. The ankle wasn't getting any better. Hopefully it gets better the next couple days. Definitely a tough decision but I think a necessary one."
Korda's premature exit paved the way for the fifth-seeded Czech player, Jiri Lehecka. After securing a 7-6(4), 6-4 victory against Australia's Max Purcell in the quarterfinals, Lehecka found himself in an unexpected position – a berth in the Winston-Salem final, without having to face Korda.
While one semifinal bracket saw its drama, the other half of the draw was no less eventful. Rain posed as an intermittent disruptor, pushing the quarterfinals to the brink. Yet, amidst the delays, top-seeded Croatian Borna Coric and Argentina's sixth-seed Sebastian Baez showcased their qualities.
Coric delivered a masterclass against Argentina's Juan Manuel Cerundolo, while Baez showcased why he is seen as one of the sport's rising stars with a 6-3, 6-0 rout against Serbia's fourth-seeded Laslo Djere.
For Korda, the focus shifts to the 2023 US Open. The American is the 31st seed, and the draw put him against Marton Fucsovics from Hungary in the first round, a match that can turn into a real challenge for Korda.
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