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Novak Djokovic has had a profound impact on the lives of many tennis players, and Sebastian Korda is no exception. The young American tennis star shared a heartwarming story in January about his transition from ice hockey to tennis, and it all started with a memorable encounter involving Djokovic.
In a thrilling fourth-round victory at the 2023 Australian Open over Hubert Hurkacz, Korda showed his talent, securing a place in the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career. But during his post-match press conference, Korda revealed the intriguing backstory of his sporting journey.
Korda revealed that he was an avid ice hockey player until the age of ten, excelling at the sport alongside a team of talented athletes. He said:
“I played ice hockey until I was 10 years old. We had a really good team. We always had like the best players. For 2000, we were No. 1 in the United States. We had two players on our team that were drafted into the NHL.”
However, Korda’s path took an unexpected turn after he attended the 2009 US Open with his father Peter Korda and Radek Stepanek, who was coached by his father at the time. During this tournament, Korda had a transformative experience as he watched Stepanek take on none other than Novak Djokovic in a fourth-round match at the legendary Arthur Ashe Arena.
Filled with inspiration, Korda made the brave decision to leave ice hockey behind and fully commit himself to a career in tennis.
Sebastian Korda received:
“It turned me on because I went to the US Open in 2009 with my dad and Radek. He made it to the round of 16 I think. He played Novak at Arthur Ashe 10:30 at night, packed full.
“I came back the next day and said, ‘This is what I want to do.'” I fell in love with the energy of the crowd, the way they do sports, and how mental they are. Yes, the rest is history.”
More on Novak Djokovic’s career
Novak Djokovic is a Serbian tennis player who has achieved remarkable success in his career. Currently ranked no. 2, held the No. 1 spot for 389 weeks and won 23 Grand Slam titles, including 10 Australian Opens.
Novak Djokovic also completed a non-calendar Grand Slam tournament and hit a hat-trick of Grand Slams. He has been a dominant force in men’s tennis, winning numerous Masters titles and establishing himself as one of the sport’s greatest players.
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