Sebastian Korda had a breakthrough week this week in the $25,000 Houston Futures event.

The 17-year-old son of 1998 Australian Open champion Petr Korda, entered the Houston Futures ranked 1357 and coming off a recent win against Stanford star Tom Fawcett, ranked 900, in the first round of Stockton Challenger qualies, 7-5 in the third. (Fawcett had beaten ATP world no. 92 Ruben Bemelmans at the recent Tiburon Challenger.)

In Houston, Korda drew Japanese Kaichi Uchida, ranked 373 in the first round. Korda prevailed in a dramatic battle 7-6 (13-11), 7-6 (7-4). In the next round, Korda defeated an Argentine named Alan Kohen, ranked 1317, 64 76.

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U.S. OPEN

September 3, 1992

Pam Shriver Press Conference after losing to Steffi Graf

Q. During the break, did you think of the possibilities you had in the first set?

PAM SHRIVER: I didn’t dwell on it during the break, no. I just — I am very aware that I had the one breakpoint 3-4 — excuse me — 4-All or 3-All?

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By Scoop Malinowski

One of the popular player lines you hear repeated a lot today is that they want to improve something in their game each day.

But thinking about it, how can a player practice and work on aspects of his or her game and actually concretely know if they actually did improve or regress or stay exactly the same?

Nadal · Shanghai Rolex Masters

By Scoop Malinowski

Wu Yibing is the ITF number one junior in the world and fresh off the junior US Open and Shanghai Challenger titles (where he defeated Peter Polansky and ATP 62 Yen-Hsen Lu in the final). Wu lost in the first round as a wildcard this week to Gilles Simon in straight sets but the seventeen year old’s recent exploits have caught the eye of Roger Federer.

“I maybe saw two points from him yesterday, so it would be wrong for me to comment on his game yet, but I was aware that he did win the US Open,” said Federer at his Shanghai press conference. “Didn’t know he became world No. 1 junior. So if that’s what he is at the moment, I hope he can finish that for himself at the end of the year. Maybe he’s going to the Orange Bowl. I’m not sure.”

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By Scoop Malinowski

I would guesstimate my friend Mike has called me easily about twenty times after losing to the same old 69 year old warhorse. Maybe twenty five times.

The story was the same every time… “We split sets then he won the tiebreaker…”

adidas · Barricade · Djokovic

Once in a while, in the sea of political correctness in tennis player interviews, you stumble upon a nugget of gold quote.

I found this particular nugget of gold on You Tube, from former ATP pro Wally Masur.

The three-time ATP singles title winner (Newport, Hong Kong and Adelaide) made this interesting statement about tennis players using falsehoods to bolster their egos and images.

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By Scoop Malinowski

Bernard Tomic, with his ranking plummeting and career nosediving, has won his first match since late June. Tomic’s triumph came today in the first round in Tokyo, a 63 36 63 win against Portugal’s Joao Sousa.

Tomic has struggled mightily since the summer, losing first rounds in his last four events. Tomic’s last win came in the round of sixteen in Eastbourne, a three setter vs Mischa Zverev. Since Eastbourne, Tomic has lost first round at Wimbledon (to M Zverev in straight sets), first round US Open (To G Muller in four sets) and first round in Chengdu (to K Edmund in two sets).

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By Scoop Malinowski

Everybody is excited about the two new innovations in professional tennis this year, the sensational Laver Cup contested this past weekend in Prague, Czech Republic and the upcoming #NEXTGEN Finals in Milan, Italy for 21 and under ATP pros.

We know tennis is a traditional sport which is historically resistant to change and innovation but something is in the air this year and things are changing and so far the public response to Laver Cup and #NEXTGEN Finals has been extremely favorable.

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Pat Cash, Anders Jarryd, Tom Okker, Michael Stich, and Helena Sukova named Candidates for
2018 International Tennis Hall of Fame Induction

September 5, 2017 – Wimbledon champions Pat Cash and Michael Stich, along with Anders Jarryd and Tom Okker, who both won multiple doubles titles at Grand Slam tournaments, and Czech legend Helena Sukova, a 14-time major champion in doubles and mixed doubles, have been named candidates for induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2018. The candidates were first announced this morning, live on Tennis Channel’s “Live from the US Open” show.

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By Scoop Malinowski

Status: Former ATP player won 2003 Sydney ATP title. Highest career ranking was 36 in 2007. Retired in 2009 and now operates Lee Hyung Taik Tennis Academy in Gangwon Province. Has career wins against Ferrero, Ferrer, Canas, Murray, Llodra, Schuettler, Ivanisevic.

DOB: Jan. 1, 1976 In: Seoul, South Korea

Childhood Heroes: “I looked up to Sampras – his game and his demeanor on the court.”

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