ATP Tour

Americans Korda, Paul kick-start 2024 in Adelaide

Sebastian Korda laid the foundations for another strong run at the Adelaide International on Wednesday, when the third seed rode out a stiff challenge from Lorenzo Sonego to advance at the ATP 250 event.

Korda prevailed 6-4, 7-6(10) against Sonego after saving five sets points in the second set. The No. 29 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings Korda clinically converted three of his four break points to register his first win of 2024 after an early exit in Brisbane last week.

A year ago, the American held championship point against Novak Djokovic in Adelaide but was unable to deny the Serbian ATP Tour great from rallying to a thrilling three-set victory. Korda will next take on home wild card Christopher O’Connell in the quarter-finals as he chases his second tour-level title.

5 set points saved 🙌

First win in 2024 for Korda as he defeats Sonego 6-4, 7-6(10) to reach the quarter-finals!@AdelaideTennis | #AdelaideTennis pic.twitter.com/g7tsDB15sG

— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 10, 2024

Top seed Tommy Paul joined his countryman Korda in the last eight with an emphatic 6-3, 6-2 win against qualifier Alex Bolt. Paul impressed in his opening match of 2024, firing 25 winners, including 11 aces, according to Infosys ATP Stats. The 26-year-old was delighted at the speed with which he settled into his first match after the off-season.

“The first match of the year, you never really know what to expect,” said Paul in his post-match press conference. “I was obviously working pretty hard in the past two months, but you can’t recreate the feelings that you have on court. So I was happy to get out there and play some good tennis. I was a little nervous going into the match, the first match of the year is always a little weird.”

Paul’s next test is an Adelaide rematch with Jack Draper. The Briton saved two match points in the second-set tie-break before sealing a remarkable 5-7, 7-6(9), 7-6(7) triumph against Miomir Kecmanovic across three hours, 40 minutes on Wednesday. Draper defeated Paul in straight sets in Adelaide a year ago, the pair’s only previous Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting.

“I lost to him last year here,” said Paul ahead of the quarter-final. “He’s obviously been working hard the past couple of months too. I’m sure he’s probably feeling a little tired right now but should be totally fine tomorrow. He’s a pretty hard worker, he’s fit and playing well, obviously, so it should be a fun match.”

Seeds Nicolas Jarry, Lorenzo Musetti, Jiri Lehecka and Alexander Bublik will also compete in the quarter-finals in Adelaide. Second seed Jarry saved a match point in the second-set tie-break before downing Matteo Arnaldi 6-7(5), 7-6(7), 6-4. The Chilean will next take on seventh seed Lehecka, who beat Dusan Lajovic 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.

Bublik reacted in style after falling behind against Daniel Evans. The eighth seed beat Evans 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 to set a last-eight clash with Musetti, who overcame Jordan Thompson 6-4, 6-1.