By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, October 2, 2023
Sebastian Korda edged wild card Hamad Medjedovic 6-7(8), 7-6(2), 7-6(3) battling into his second final of the season at the Astana Open.
Photo credit: Kazakhstan Tennis Federation Facebook
Operating on the tiebreaker ledge inspired competitive edge in Sebastian Korda.
A fired-up Korda out-dueled Serbian wild card Hamad Medjedovic 6-7(8), 7-6(2), 7-6(3) battling into his second final of the season at the Astana Open.
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When Medjedovic's final forehand found the middle of the net, Korda dropped to a squat, pumped his fists and erupted in a primal scream toward his box.
In a superb serving performance, Korda slashed 18 aces against one double fault and did not drop serve in a two hour, 52-minute marathon match.
Serving from behind throughout the final set, Korda kept calm and played more assertive tennis in the decisive tiebreaker. Korda won four consecutive points snatching a 5-1 lead in the third-set tiebreaker before closing an an eruption of emotion.
Korda had cause for celebration fighting back for his third three-set victory in four tournament wins this week, including a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 victory over top-seeded Tallon Griekspoor in the quarterfinals.
Riding an eight-match winning streak into his second semifinal of the year, Medjedovic took the court knowing a victory would vault him into the Top 100 for the first time.
The 120th-ranked Serbian very nearly pulled it off, but Korda's clarity in his service games denied Medjedovic in a tight test.
It is the sixth career final for Korda, who will play for his second Tour-level title tomorrow. Korda will face French left-hander Adrian Mannarino in the final. Mannarino beat Austrian Sebastian Ofner, 6-4, 6-2, in today's second semifinal.
The 28th-ranked Korda improved to 22-12 on the season reaching his first final since Adelaide last January when he lost to Novak Djokovic. Korda and Mannarino have not played each other previously.
The 23-year-old Korda is playing for his second title and first since he won the 2021 Parma championship on red clay without surrendering a set.