Comeback king Korda stuns Gaston in Next Gen ATP Finals opener

The
American
became
only
the
second
player
in
the
history
of
this
event
to
achieve
the
feat,
after
Borna
Coric
against
Karen
Khachanov
in
2017.

Korda
is
the
second
seed
in
Milan
this
year
following
an
impressive
2021
that
saw
him
capture
his
first
ATP
title
at
the
Emilia-Romagna
Open,
and
reach
the
Miami
Masters
quarter-finals
and
Wimbledon
fourth
round.

The
21-year-old
looked
destined
to
begin
Group
B
with
a
defeat
after
losing
the
opening
two
sets
on
tie-breaks,
while
he
also
saved
match
point
at
3-2
down
in
the
fourth.

Korda
subsequently
dominated
the
final
set
to
complete
a
remarkable
victory
in
just
over
two
hours.

The
world
number
39
said:
“[I]
just
stayed
calm
and
kept
thinking
what
I
could
do
better.

“I
did
play
very
well
tactically
in
the
first
two
sets,
but
I
figured
a
couple
of
things
out
during
the
tie-break
and
I
think
that
helped
me
for
the
rest
of
the
match.”

This
is
the

@sebikorda
we
all
know
&
love

pic.twitter.com/Sf9DeyQgO2

—
Next
Gen
ATP
Finals
(@nextgenfinals)

November
9,
2021

Meanwhile,
top
seed
Carlos
Alcaraz
enjoyed
a
straight-sets
victory
over
Holger
Rune,
prevailing
4-3(6)
4-2
4-0.

The
Spanish
teenager
has
also
enjoyed
a
fruitful
year
on
the
ATP
circuit,
triumphing
in
Umag
while
beating
world
number
three
Stefanos
Tsitsipas
on
the
way
to
reaching
the
US
Open
quarter-finals.

And
he
made
the
perfect
start
in
Group
A;
enjoying
an
88
per
cent
first-serve
success
rate
in
a
commanding
win.

“I
think
it
was
a
great
match,
both
of
us
played
really
well,”
the
world
number
32
said.

“I
am
trying
to
go
to
the
net
and
play
aggressively
in
the
important
moments
and
stay
calm.
I
am
trying
to
do
this
every
match.”

Elsewhere,
Brandon
Nakashima
–
champion
in
Brest
last
month
–
made
it
10
wins
from
11
matches
as
he
beat
Juan
Manuel
Cerundolo
4-1
3-4(3)
4-1
4-0.

The
20-year-old,
who
became
the
youngest
American
to
reach
multiple
tour-level
finals
since
Andy
Roddick
earlier
this
year,
was
pegged
back
in
the
second
set,
but
dominated
the
final
two
to
seal
victory
in
just
over
an
hour-and-a-half.

However,
there
was
no
joy
for
home
favourite
Lorenzo
Musetti,
who
was
beaten
in
four
sets
by
Sebastian
Baez.

Though
roared
on
by
his
home
crowd,
the
world
number
58
was
unable
to
deliver
in
his
opening
match.
Baez
–
a
five-time
Challenger
Tour
winner
in
2021
–
took
full
advantage
to
prevail
4-1
4-1
3-4(5)
4-3(5).