Nadal crushes Korda to reach last-8

PARIS, October 4

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Rafael Nadal blew away American qualifier Sebastian Korda 6-1 6-1 6-2 to romp into the quarterfinals today and close in on a record-extending 13th title at Roland Garros. With the sun out and the wind up on Court Philippe Chatrier, it always looked like mission impossible for Korda, and so it proved in a one-sided fourth-round match.

Nadal has lost no sets and only 23 games in reaching his 42nd Grand Slam quarterfinal and is yet to face a seed.

Coolest day of my life: Korda

Korda described being schooled by his idol Nadal as the “coolest moment of my life”. The 20-year-old, ranked 213th in the world but clearly on his way higher, earned several “bravos” from the 34-year-old Spaniard.

And despite the heavy losing, Korda was full of beans when he spoke later about experiencing the power of the claycourt king at such close quarters after watching him for years on TV.

“It was definitely the best moment of my life,” Korda, who made his Grand Slam debut at the US Open as a wildcard this year, said.

“It was super awesome. I think after the match I asked him for a signed shirt when we were tapping racquets. I don’t know if anyone’s ever asked him for an autograph after a match, but that was definitely the coolest moment of my life and one I’ll never forget for sure.”

After beating fellow qualifier Pedro Martinez on Friday, Korda, son of 1992 Roland Garros runner-up Petr, revealed that Nadal was the reason he played tennis and that he had named his pet cat after the Spanish great. — Reuters