AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 21, 2023

Sebastian Korda

Press Conference

S. KORDA/D. Medvedev

7-6, 6-3, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations, Sebi. A very close match. You were the one who left at the end. What did you think you did the best tonight?

SEBASTIAN KORDA: Yeah, probably one of the better matches I've played in my career. Just stuck with the game plan, kept going after it. I think positive mentally throughout it. No matter what happened, kept pushing forward. I think that was the biggest thing that I did today.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You mentioned on court your sisters, your parents, steps. Then you spoke about Andre as well. Did hear from Andre already, knowing it was 5:00 in the morning?

SEBASTIAN KORDA: Yeah, he texted me. He's going to bed now. That's the last thing he sent me (smiling).

Yeah, he's one of the most special people in my life. We started talking during COVID in 2020. He's been one of the biggest parts in my rise. Just overall just as a tennis player, as a human being. We spend a lot of time together. Yeah, he's very special to me.

Q. Late in the third set, it was a little bit of a slip from you letting him get back on serve. Then the tiebreaker, 6-1, couple chances slipped away. What was the internal grind going on there at those segments of the match? What did you tell yourself to steady yourself?

SEBASTIAN KORDA: I didn't feel anything during the match. I just kind of really, really worked hard on just zero negative thoughts. I mean, throughout this whole year, I haven't had one negative thought, whether it's waiting for transportation to go to the courts, whether it's eating lunch, whether it's doing anything.

That's one of the biggest things is kind of just having a new motto of, like, positive energy is more positive than negative energy. As soon as you get something negative, it can take you the opposite direction.

Yeah, anything that happens, just thinking in the most positive possible way, just going forward. Same thing in the match. Losing my serve after being 40-15 up, you know, it's okay, next point. Don't worry, keep going, do your thing.

Q. Where did that come from? Something somebody told you? You read somewhere?

SEBASTIAN KORDA: Yeah, I mean, my mom is always really big on having a good attitude. I just try to take it one step further, just try to do it all the time.

Especially bringing in two new coaches, Martin Stepanek and Radek Stepanek. They're really big into that. So I think it's playing, like, a big role in my game right now. It's working really well.

Q. You said at the start that was the best match of your life potentially. Started well in Adelaide. What has changed for you? How much confidence do you have right now?

SEBASTIAN KORDA: I saw you at the airport so that gave me heaps of confidence (smiling).

Yeah, I always knew or I always was told how good of a tennis player I can be. Now just getting the right people around me, building a really solid team, just trusting the process.

I'm growing as a person, as a player. Just trying to do the right things. Just have fun, enjoy it, good things will happen.

Q. On the American success at this event, are you feeding off that? Are you doing it individually? Does it not matter?

SEBASTIAN KORDA: Yeah, no, it's awesome. We're all a close group. We're all really good friends, especially with the Davis Cup. We practice basically every week together.

Yeah, whenever they're doing well, you try to want to do it the next week even better. There's a little competition there, but it's a healthy one. It's great to see the young guys going up and doing their thing and having better results every week.

Q. The next match against Hubert Hurkacz. He told us he's going to avoid your forehand. From your perspective, what is the biggest weapon of Hurkacz, and what did you learn from your last match?

SEBASTIAN KORDA: Yeah, his serve is definitely one of the best on tour. Just the way he moves. Kind of similar style a little bit to Daniil. I'm really looking forward to it. We practice quite a bit.

Usually whenever we practice, he actually wins the tournament. I always give him jokes about that.

Yeah, I'm looking forward to it. It's exciting, the fourth round of a Grand Slam. I'll be ready to go.

Q. Australia is a very happy hunting ground for your family. Does that amplify how special this tournament is for you? What does this country mean for you and your family?

SEBASTIAN KORDA: Yeah, it's massive. We get some residency here or something, get a house or something (smiling).

Yeah, I mean, it's fun to play here. The people, they love their sports here. They get after it. My dad always loved coming here and playing. Both my sisters, they love coming here. Just everything.

It's a special place for us. We've had some really great results. Hopefully I can do one better than the juniors and do it in the pros.

I always have a great time here. Just the people and everyone, they're really friendly, make you feel at home.

Q. We were talking last week trying to play aggressive and coming to net. You were very much doing that. I don't know if you looked at the stats, but they were quite good when you came forward. How in control did you feel against a guy who is a stymieing defender like he is?

SEBASTIAN KORDA: Yeah, you kind of have to do it. You kind of have to step up and dictate in a way. I'm lucky in a way that is my game, so I feel it's a good matchup for me that I have -- that the match will be on my racquet. It kind of depends what I will do with it.

I think I executed things very well today. I came to the net, served and volleyed, brought him into the net. It was tactically a really good match for me.

I think the last tiebreaker, I mean, it was a great tiebreaker for me.