WASHINGTON, February 23, 2021 (by Michael Dickens)
Following the completion of the Australian Open, the season’s first major, the ATP has branched out across three continents this week – Europe, Asia and South America – with competition in Montpellier, France; Singapore, and Cordoba, Argentina.
Highlighting Monday’s play, 92nd-ranked NextGen ATP rising star Sebastian Korda of the United States advanced to the second round of the Open Sud de France with a well-deserved 6-4, 6-2 victory over former champion Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
The 20-year-old Korda struck five aces and won 83 percent (38 of 46) of his service points against the 66th-ranked Tsonga, returning from a back injury that had sidelined him the past 13 months, since the 2020 Australian Open, in a highly-anticipated first-round contest. Korda saved both break points he faced while converting three of six chances against the Frenchman.
Shot. Of. The. Day. 🤯#NextGenATP 🇺🇸 @SebiKorda moves past Tsonga 6-4, 6-2.
🎥: @TennisTV | @OpenSuddeFrance pic.twitter.com/S800FlQpGe
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 22, 2021
“It was definitely special [to play Tsonga]; I grew up watching him my whole life,” said Korda during an on-court interview following his win. “To get the chance to be able to play against him was an honor for me. I hope he can stay healthy and keep playing tennis. … He’s such an incredible entertainer and an incredible person. …
“I just tried to stay focused and take care of my side of the court. I know he hasn’t played tennis in 14 months [or so], so it definitely wasn’t easy for him. I’m super happy with the way I played.”
20-year-old @SebiKorda beats former World No. 5 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4 6-2 in @OpenSuddeFrance 1R.@DelrayBeachOpen finalist Korda is 10-2 in 2021, 15-2 since November and 23-4 since the start of @RolandGarros including @ATPTour, Grand Slam, qualifying & @ATPChallenger matches.
— ATP Media Info (@ATPMediaInfo) February 22, 2021
Other first round winners in Montpellier included No. 6 seed Ugo Humbert of France, who defeated No. 93 Norbert Gombos of Slovakia, 6-3, 7-6 (3); and No. 7 seed Lorenzo Sonego of Italy took out 162nd-ranked Frenchman Hugo Gaston, 6-3, 6-7 (7), 6-1. Great Britain’s Andy Murray, ranked 121st, who accepted a wild card into the the ATP 250 indoor hardcourt event, will face No. 83 Egor Gerasimov of Belarus on Tuesday evening.
• In Singapore, No. 5 seed Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan advanced over No. 178 Michael Mmoh of the United States, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, while No. 7 seed Lloyd Harris of South Africa fell to 423rd-ranked wild card Adrian Andreev of Bulgaria, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, in this indoor hardcourt event.
• At Cordoba on red clay, No. 128 Josef Kovalik of Slovakia and 1,165th-ranked wild card Nicolas Jarry of Chile, playing in his first ATP main draw match since his doping suspension, advanced to the second round, while four qualifying draw matches filled out the main draw. World No. 9 Diego Schwartzman is the tournament’s top seed and awaits Tuesday’s winner between No. 112 Hugo Dellien of Bolivia and No. 87 Marco Cecchinato of Italy.
Congratulating the champions
Congratulations to Naomi Osaka, the Australian Open Women’s Singles Champion! #AusOpen https://t.co/T8Zgt4Akm1
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) February 20, 2021
Brilliant work on another Australian title @DjokerNole , under so much pressure in such difficult times. You continue to show the world what a great champion you are. There was no doubt in your mind tonight – Daniil felt the full force of your will. Sublime 9! 🚀
— Rod Laver (@rodlaver) February 21, 2021
Congrats to @naomiosaka (🏆🏆 #AusOpen 🙌) & @DjokerNole ( 9th title #AusOpen 😱) for the Single Champions Title #AusOpen 🙌👏 #AO2021 pic.twitter.com/18FLn8xVN7
— Gabriela Sabatini (@sabatinigabyok) February 21, 2021
From the WTA Insider
Ash Barty on @jennifurbrady95’s AO run:
“I was absolutely rapt for her. She’s such a brilliant person off the tennis court and then I think on the tennis court she’s a superstar.
“She’s a fantastic professional. She definitely belongs at the latter end of the big tournaments.” pic.twitter.com/YI00a5z0sp
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) February 22, 2021
Happy 49th Birthday, Michael Chang
Sending Happy Birthday 🥳 wishes to 1989 @rolandgarros champion, 1990 @DavisCup champion, Hall of Famer and a true ambassador for the sport, Michael Chang! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/xl8E56Plom
— Tennis Hall of Fame (@TennisHalloFame) February 22, 2021
What they’re saying
• Naomi Osaka on what her ultimate tennis goal is:
“This is going to sound really odd, but hopefully I play long enough to play a girl who said that I was once her favorite player. That would be like the coolest thing that could happen to me.”
• Novak Djokovic on what drives him to excel:
“Roger and Rafa inspire me. I think as long as they go, I’ll go. In a way it’s a race [of] who plays tennis more, I guess, and who wins more. It’s a competition between us in all areas. But I think that’s the very reason why we are who we are – because we do drive each other, we motivate each other, we push each other to the limit.”
What they’re writing
Tumaini Carayol, tennis correspondent for The Guardian of London, writes about how Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka aims for all-court dominance to fulfill her potential.
Naomi Osaka already has an all-time great hard court slam resume and… a few third rounds at Wimbledon and Roland Garros. It’s going to be interesting to see her develop on those surfaces but don’t expect it to happen immediately. https://t.co/MvW2zERsVJ
— Tumaini Carayol (@tumcarayol) February 21, 2021
What they’re podcasting
Morning, our final pod of the 2021 #AusOpen is up.
How Djokovic dominated Medvedev.
Could Medvedev have done anything differently?
Why did Djokovic ‘need’ this title?
How did Goran Ivanisevic stoke up The Grand Slam Race?
Listen – https://t.co/Il45KaIQot
— The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) February 22, 2021
What they’re sharing on social media
Novak Djokovic / A bond that will never be broken
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) February 21, 2021
Elise Mertens / Treasure the moments
Treasure the moment 🙏💭🏆
Thank you for all the nice messages! #AO2021 pic.twitter.com/1GuVhgwG7J— Elise Mertens (@elise_mertens) February 21, 2021
Naomi Osaka / Posing with Daphne
Picture day 🤩🏆@naomiosaka | #AO2021 pic.twitter.com/tZvek7Q7fo
— wta (@WTA) February 21, 2021
Jessica Pegula / Thank you Australian Open
Thank you for the support back home & thank you to @AustralianOpen for giving me the opportunity to compete the past few weeks 😍🥰 pic.twitter.com/vsDVlrM9rz
— Jessie Pegula (@JLPegula) February 22, 2021
Mark Petchey / One of the best views in tennis
One of the best views ever to watch tennis @AdelaideTennis @TennisAustralia pic.twitter.com/c147PoQ3fu
— Mark Petchey (@_markpetchey) February 22, 2021
Lucas Pouille / On my way back
Ravi de retrouver l’ @OpenSuddeFrance ! 👋#OnMyWayBack 💪🏻 ( 📸 J.B. Autissier – Panoramic ) pic.twitter.com/UTG1wx6VIR
— Lucas Pouille (@la_pouille) February 21, 2021
