Match Report
From MP saves to remaining: Korda, Cobolli set Washington title match
Each finalists saved match factors this week on the ATP 500
August 04, 2024
Ben Solomon
Sebastian Korda seeks to match his father, Petr Korda, by profitable the Washington title.
By ATP Workers
After saving a mixed seven match factors earlier this week on the Mubadala Citi DC Open, Sebastian Korda and Flavio Cobolli superior to the ultimate on the Washington ATP 500. After rain delayed the beginning of each Saturday night semi-finals, Korda knocked off Frances Tiafoe 6-4, 6-4 on the stadium courtroom and Cobolli beat Ben Shelton 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 on the grandstand.
Korda, who saved two match factors in opposition to Thanasi Kokkinakis within the third spherical, is bidding to match father Petr Korda (1992) by profitable the Washington title. He’ll play for his second tour-level crown in his seventh remaining.
In an all-American semi-final, he fired 12 aces and saved the lone break level in opposition to him, in line with Infosys ATP Stats. He hit 25 winners and made simply 5 unforced errors in a clear efficiency in opposition to native favorite Tiafoe.
“It was fairly good right now. Frances performs a few of his greatest tennis right here. I simply tried to care for my aspect of the courtroom,” stated Korda. “I feel I performed very well right now and I served very well, in order that was in all probability the important thing for right now.”
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After beating Italy’s Cobolli within the pair’s first Lexus ATP Head2Head assembly earlier this season in Rome, the American will hope to repeat that end result on his own residence soil.
“We have by no means performed one another on a tough courtroom, however we performed on clay in Rome, and it’s extremely tough to play in opposition to him there,” he stated. “I am wanting ahead to tomorrow. Hopefully crowd and a few assist for me, and we’ll see what occurs.”
Cobolli used his greatest profession win by PIF ATP Rating to advance to his first tour-level remaining, knocking out World No. 14 Shelton. The 22-year-old saved 5 match factors in opposition to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina within the second spherical and notched his third consecutive three-set win on Saturday night time.
“I am shaking, I am so joyful,” an emotional Cobolli stated post-match. “I can not describe my feelings proper now. I am so pleased with myself. It is my first remaining… I actually loved the match right now. This week is unbelievable. I feel it is my week. Each day I wakened and I simply wish to play my tennis. That is perhaps the explanation that I am right here.”
The Italian, who competed within the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF final November, is up 15 locations to No. 33 within the PIF ATP Reside Rankings this week, setting himself up for a profession excessive. Korda can be set for a brand new profession excessive after rising three locations to No. 19 this week within the PIF ATP Reside Rankings.