MUBADALA CITI DC OPEN

August 4, 2024

Sebastian Korda

Press Conference

S. KORDA/F. Cobolli

4-6, 6-2, 6-0

THE MODERATOR: What a tournament for you. How can you describe your feeling right now?

SEBASTIAN KORDA: Yeah, I mean, it's pretty emotional. Been coming here for so many years. My dad's played here so many times. Just to win is pretty special.

I fought hard today, just stayed with it. Yeah, hope for good things to come.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. When you're standing on the court and you hear you and your dad are the first father-son duo to win the same ATP championship, what does that mean to you?

SEBASTIAN KORDA: Yeah, I mean, I cried a little bit. Yeah, pretty emotional. So many times I've practiced or played on center court here. Get to see my dad in '92 always right across from where you sit down. It's pretty cool to finally put my name up there, as well.

Hopefully he comes with me next year just to be here and experience this special moment.

Q. Yesterday you said this was the biggest final of your career. What was it like managing your emotions throughout the day today?

SEBASTIAN KORDA: Yeah, it was pretty easy. I had one of my best friends here. We've been joking this whole week, really just trying to enjoy the moment really of kind of where I am. I've been getting so lost and putting so much pressure on myself, I guess in a way caring too much. Just constantly having tennis on my mind. If I'm not doing well, being in a bad mood.

Just really tried to change that around. He's been a huge help for me. My girlfriend has been a huge help, as well, just to keep me comfortable and happy. Just really grateful to have them this week with me.

Q. Not many people have touched your serve this tournament. What turned around for you after the first set?

SEBASTIAN KORDA: I changed my socks at 2-1 in the second set. Honestly, that was the key (smiling). I had something in my sock messing around with me. Just kind of like slipping inside my shoe in a way.

Changed my socks at 2-1. Hold for 2-2, broke for 3-2, kind of rolled with it. I think that was the key today, changing my socks. Happy I did that (smiling).

Q. A lot going on with the family and the Olympics. Is your dad overseas? Have you spoken to him in the last hour?

SEBASTIAN KORDA: I sent a text after the match. But I haven't talked to anyone. That's about it. Both my parents are in Florida right now. They're in a hurricane currently. Yeah, they're dealing with this. My sister Nelly, she's in Paris right now. She's getting ready to play on Thursday for the Olympics. Hopefully defend her title.

Q. You spoke earlier this week about the impact your mom has made on your career. When you think about the contributions your father has made to put you in this position, how can you describe where the impact has been most felt for you?

SEBASTIAN KORDA: Yeah, honestly probably the biggest impact was really coming to Washington really. My dad, he coached Radek Stepanek. Almost every summer we would go with him to the US Open. That's honestly the reason why I started playing tennis.

I went to the US Open in 2009. I was playing ice hockey as well. Kind of my parents really said, You kind of have to decide what you really want to do because it's just getting too much.

Yeah, I fell in love with tennis at the US Open. Radek, he played Djokovic, Arthur Ashe, at like 10:00 at night, fully packed. Crazy atmosphere. Went home and decided that was the sport I wanted to do.

Yeah, just coming to these tournaments, being around the guys, having just a lot of fun around here, was the biggest key to my career, realizing how badly I wanted to be a professional tennis player.

Q. It felt like the turning point for the week was middle of the Kokkinakis match. You were a little bit more demonstrative, more angry at yourself, then able to calm your emotions. What was behind that? What made that turning point?

SEBASTIAN KORDA: Yeah, I mean, I was about a couple inches from being on a plane to Montreal honestly. In a way I got super lucky against Thanasi. Just kind of stuck with it, kept rolling with it, tried to stay positive.

Yeah, just hoped that good things would happen. Here I am with the trophy.

Q. Can you speak to Flavio today. He played a long week, tough matches. He's going to leap into the top 40 this week. What was good about his game today?

SEBASTIAN KORDA: Yeah, he's got a really tricky serve. He tosses it super far behind him. You don't really know what he's going to do with it. He's such an explosive player, incredibly fast. When he's feeling fresh, he's incredibly dangerous.

We played in Rome as well this year. A tough three-setter. Now again with three-setter. Luckily for me I guess he was feeling a little tired from all the hours that he spent on court here.

He's going to have a great year. He's going to be a great player.

Q. Did you take a second to look at your dad's name? If so, how did that moment feel?

SEBASTIAN KORDA: Yeah, every time I walk on center court, I look at 1992. I think it's pretty special that my dad won here.

Obviously, as soon as I won and I sat down in the chair, yeah, I just looked up there, just thought about my dad, my whole family, just how proud they always say they are of me. Just really cool to put my name up there, as well.

Q. You are the first father-son duo. Do you have any thoughts of maybe one day when you have kids that they come here and win this thing?

SEBASTIAN KORDA: I don't know. My parents were really big on allowing us to really do what we want, allowing us to really discover what we love to do. Forever grateful for my parents for allowing all of us to just really find out what we want to do. Luckily for me, tennis was my love growing up, and here I am in Washington with a trophy.

Q. You've been knocking on the door for a big result for a while. Now that you've achieved this, how do you think this is going to inform the rest of your season? In terms of American tennis, all the guys doing well at the same time, Tiafoe, Fritz, Paul...

SEBASTIAN KORDA: It's great. In a way I would say it's healthy jealousy. When someone does a great result, the other guys want to do an even better one.

It's really great all the Americans are close. All the Americans are playing really great tennis right now. Hopefully we can make a big push in the coming Grand Slam soon.

Q. You've won one of the hottest weeks in the year here in Washington. Nelly is next month playing Solheim here. Any tips for her on how to beat the heat?

SEBASTIAN KORDA: Yeah, I'm sure they're going to do great. The fans here are incredible. I'm sure they'll come and support. It's going to be great.

Yeah, hopefully she comes back and takes the title. I think that would be pretty cool if we win in the same area in one year.

Q. You won 52 out of 54 service games this week. You were only broken twice. Big number of aces. What do you think was the key to your serving so well this week?

SEBASTIAN KORDA: I mean, honestly my coach, he's incredible with really relaying messages on what he sees on my serve. We have a great way of communicating with each other. I really trust him with my serve. Whenever he's out there, I'm super comfortable serving.

Just also great when it's super hot as well. I'm used to Florida heat. The balls are flying a lot faster. It's a little bit easier to serve. That's probably the biggest key of my game, is really to have a high first-serve percentage and try to serve great. If I can do that, hopefully I can win more.