The Dream Continues: Korda makes history by moving into Paris' last 16

It was not an auspicious start. But it certainly was a familiar situation. The American was Sebastian Korda, a qualifier ranked No. 213 in the world, making his Roland Garros debut, impressively having advanced to the third round. Korda’s marginally more experienced opponent appeared to personify everything that fills a player with dread on a cold, overcast day at Roland Garros. Spaniard Pedro Martinez, a fellow qualifier ranked 105th in the world, is cut out for clay—steady, mobile, dogged. Imagine Martinez and Pablo Carreno Busta breaking out one ball and commencing a practice session with a tidy 100-shot rally.

So when Korda faced break points at 2-4 in the first set, all seemed on course for yet another American first-week car ride to Charles de Gaulle Airport. As is likely known as far away as Mars and Venus, no other Grand Slam event more stymies Americans, exposes their technical flaws and tactical limitations, inspires studies and symposiums about why there are not more clay courts dotted through our vast republic. As for Korda, let the slack be cut. He is only 20 years, so there will be plenty of time for Korda to grapple with clay and, more likely, show off his big weapons at the other majors.

Not so fast. Korda did more than escape that 2-4 deficit. He broke the match wide open, winning 14 of the next 17 games to lead 6-4, 6-3, 4-0—and love-40 on Martinez's serve. The Spaniard escaped from that situation and held, at which point there came a rain delay that lasted just over two hours.

The history of tennis is filled with tales of rain delays that turned a match in a different direction.

This was not one of them.

Once the court dried, Korda reentered Court 7 first, ten minutes ahead of Martinez. One wonders: If the absence of spectators has curtailed the energy of passionate engagement, might it also reduce the anticipation that accompanies public performance? As he awaited the arrival of Martinez, Korda looked incredibly calm, a Sampras-like tranquility, as nonchalant as he would be at yet another practice session.

There came only a slight hiccup upon resumption. Korda served at 4-1, 15-30, but then captured the next two points with sharp forehands and went up 5-1. Martinez took a 30-15 lead in the next game, only to serve his eighth double-fault. On Korda’s second match point, he blistered an untouchable forehand crosscourt passing shot to close out the match, 6-4, 6-3, 6-1.

Clement Mahoudeau / FFT

He’d hit 52 winners to just 20 for Martinez. Also notable was that Korda won 67 percent of the points on Martinez’s second serve.

“He was playing really well. I was down a break," Korda said, reflecting on the slow start. "I just told myself just to hang in there.”

Korda gave much credit for this calmness under pressure to one of his coaches, Dean Goldfine (former coach of Todd Martin and others) who advises him constantly to, in Korda’s words, “weather the storm”—particularly relevant given the conditions this year at Roland Garros.

Korda is the first qualifier to reach the round of 16 at Roland Garros since Alejandro Falla made it to that stage in 2011. He’s also the youngest American to go this far at Roland Garros since 19-year-old Michael Chang in 1991.

That achievement is just about the only thing Korda has in common with Chang. If Korda appears to have the pulse of Sampras, he also shares many of his stylistic qualities. The 6’ 5” Florida resident has a relaxed, efficient service motion that can find any corner, seemingly at will. Versus Martinez, Korda served eight aces, zero double faults and got in an exceptionally high percent of first serves—72 percent, likely going for less since Korda figured Martinez was hardly going to punish any service returns. Korda also has a whip-like forehand, the contemporary dynamic drive that doesn’t just go through the court, but moves off it, a shot fizzing with exceptional topspin when desired, but one he can flatten when necessary. While not as electric as the forehand, the Korda backhand is solid, often struck with fine depth versus Martinez. Korda also has an appetite for the net, going 12 for 18 today.

“He is really complete, Martinez said. "All his game is very solid. Good serve, good backhand, good forehand and he's really young and so he will be, for sure, a very, very good player.”

For an American to beat a Spaniard on clay is a major rite of passage. But when it comes to Spanish clay court prowess, two days from now, Korda will advance right to the peak when he plays the greatest of them all, 12-time Roland Garros champion Rafael Nadal—a man who’s also Korda’s tennis idol. “He's one of the reasons I play tennis,” said Korda. “Just watching him play, unbelievable competitor. Just from him I have the never-give-up mentality. Whenever I'm on court, I try to be like him.” So much does Korda admire Nadal that he once named a cat Rafa. He’s held the cat. Sunday, he’ll face the lion.