Rafa Nadal will debut at the Masters 1000 in Indian Wells against Sebastian Korda, number 38 in the ATP , and one of the great talents on the circuit. The young American, 21, got rid of Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis in the first round in one hour and 29 minutes of play, with a result of 6-3 and 6-4. Both will now meet in the second round, in what will be the Balearic’s first match in the Californian tournament since 2019. His debut is scheduled for this Saturday, at a time yet to be determined.
Rafa Nadal already knows who his first rival will be at the Masters 1000 in Indian Wells, after the first round of the Californian tournament was resolved. It is the American Sebastian Korda , 21, who beat the Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis in two sets, (6-3 and 6-4). The American is one of the great jewels on the circuit, he was a finalist in the last edition of the Next Gen Finals in Milan, where he lost to Carlos Alcaraz.
Nadal and Korda know each other well, in fact, both have trained together this week to prepare for the first Masters 1000 of the season and the American is a self-confessed follower of the Spaniard. There is only one precedent on the circuit, with victory for Nadal in the round of 16 at Roland Garros 2020, with a resounding result in favor of the Spanish 6-1, 6-1 and 6-2. Although, since then the American has evolved a lot, jumping up to 175 positions in the ATP ranking to occupy the current position number 38, in addition to already having a title in his showcases.
Rafael Nadal works out w/Sebastian Korda in Stadium 1 in #IndianWells. @BNPPARIBASOPEN pic.twitter.com/FPZEyag9HO
— Richard Osborn (@RWOsborn) March 8, 2022
Sebastian Korda is the son of Czech tennis player Petr Korda and former top-30 player Regina Rajchrtová, while his sisters succeed in the world of golf. In 2018, the American won the junior Australian Open , a tournament that his father had won in the top flight. In an interview he has slipped that his dream is to win at least two Grand Slams, surpassing what Petr Korda did in his day.
Nadal is ready for his debut in his fourth tournament of the season, in which he remains undefeated with 15 consecutive wins and three trophies in his showcase. In California, he seeks his fourth title and equals the maximum Masters 1000 record (37). His match against Sebastian Korda , corresponding to the second round of the Masters 1000 in Indian Wells , will be played this Saturday, March 12, at a time yet to be determined by the organization. The day is divided into two sessions: the daytime begins around 8:00 p.m. in Spain, while the nighttime around 3:00 a.m. in the morning.
