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SPORTS Saturday 3 OctOber 2020
'Are you Sebastian's father?' Korda, 20, takes on idol Nadal

AP Sports Writers hockey for tennis, Petr al-
PARIS (AP) — Sebastian ready was focused on his
Korda was 9, heart set on daughters' golf, so it was
a hockey career, when he Regina who took charge
went with his father, Petr, of the family's little tennis
to the 2009 U.S. Open. By player.
then, Petr — 1998 Austra- "One of the biggest influ-
lian Open champion, 1992 ences that I have. The way
French Open finalist — had my strokes are, and every-
retired as a competitor and thing, is because she's the
turned to coaching. one that kind of tuned it
Sebastian watched Petr's that way," Sebastian said.
player, Radek Stepanek, "We spent a lot of time on
face Novak Djokovic at court together when I was
night in Arthur Ashe Stadi- a kid. Probably more than
um. with my dad."
"Totally packed. I thought it He showed a veteran's
was the coolest thing. Went poise Friday, staying calm
home, came back the next when a rain delay of more
year, and said, 'This is ex- than two hours arrived right
actly what I want to do,'" after he blew a 40-love
Korda said. "The rest is his- lead to drop a game.
tory." Sebastian donned head-
"Sebi," as he's called, is now phones to wait out the
20 and made a bit of his- weather in the locker room,
tory at Roland Garros on then finished the job quick-
Friday, beating Spain's Pe- Austria's Dominic Thiem plays a shot against Norway's Casper Ruud in the third round match of the ly when play resumed.
dro Martinez 6-4, 6-3, 6-1 in French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. "Things aren't always going
a rain-interrupted match to be smooth, aren't always
to become the youngest and cried into a towel while isan, and Nadia Podorska says a lot about how much going to be easy," said
American man in the fourth fans chanted his first name vs. Barbora Krejcikova. I love the guy." Dean Goldfine, a national
round in Paris since Michael after a 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-0 When the prospect of fac- Petr sounded just as de- coach with the U.S. Ten-
Chang was 19 in 1991. upset of Stan Wawrinka, ing Nadal was mentioned lighted about what comes nis Association player de-
"Everybody is always asking whose three Grand Slam at Sebastian's post-match next. velopment program who
him: 'Are you the son of Petr trophies include the 2015 news conference — which "It's great he's playing Nadal is among the group that
Korda?' Which I would love title at Roland Garros. took place while the King of in his living room, his court," works with Sebastian. "He's
to change in the future," On Sunday, Korda plays Clay still was in the second Petr said from Bradenton, gotten a lot more patient
Dad said in a telephone in- 12-time champion Rafael set of his 6-1, 6-4, 6-0 victory Florida, where he woke up with what he can control
terview, "so that people ask Nadal, while Gaston meets over Stefano Travaglia — at dawn to watch Sebas- and what he can't control."
me, 'Are you Sebastian's fa- U.S. Open champion Domi- there was zero hesitation. tian on TV, then changed The two-handed back-
ther?'" nic Thiem. "I'm praying that he wins. I the channel in the after- hand is dangerous. The
The 213th-ranked Sebastian The other men's matchups mean, he's my biggest idol. noon to watch two older slice is improving. Increased
is the first qualifier to make on the draw's bottom half: He's one of the reasons I daughters, Nelly and Jes- lower-body strength —
it this far at the clay-court No. 6 Alexander Zverev, play tennis. ... From him, sica, play in an LPGA event thanks to "growing into" his
Grand Slam tournament the runner-up to Thiem in I have the never-give-up in New Jersey. "What better 6-foot-5 frame, as Gold-
since 2011. New York, against 19-year- mentality. Whenever I'm on place to play him, to see fine put it, and working on
There's this, too: He joined old Jannik Sinner, and No. court, I try to be like him," him (up) close, to see what his physique during tennis'
another 20-year-old, 239th- 12 Diego Schwartzman said Sebastian, whose tour- this player can do, to learn pandemic-forced hiatus —
ranked French wild-card against Lorenzo Sonego. level record was 0-3 until about the game? I'm look- boosted his forehand.
entry Hugo Gaston, as the Women's fourth-rounders this groundbreaking week, ing forward to it." As for a long-term aim?
first men from outside the set up by Friday's results which included a win over In addition to Dad's genes "My dad, he's incredibly
Top 200 to make it to the are No. 1 Simona Halep No. 21 seed John Isner. and advice, Sebastian and supportive, but my goal
French Open's last 16 since vs. 19-year-old Iga Swi- And then Sebastian his sisters got plenty from in life is to win two Grand
2002. atek, No. 3 Elina Svitolina dropped this footnote: Mom, too: Regina was No. Slams," Sebi said said, "so
"Amazing," said Gaston, vs. Caroline Garcia, No. 5 "Growing up, I named my 26 in the WTA rankings. I have one more than he
who sat in his sideline seat Kiki Bertens vs. Martina Trev- cat 'Rafa' after him. That When Sebastian dropped has."q

Reliever Stammen to start for Padres in Game 3 vs Cardinals

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Reliever Craig Stammen will start for the San Diego Paddack, who was roughed up in losing Game 1, will be available for
Padres in the decisive Game 3 of the NL wild-card series against the St. Game 3.
Louis Cardinals on Friday night. San Diego rallied Thursday night behind Fernando Tatis Jr. and Wil My-
The Padres were forced to go with a bullpen game because starters ers, who each hit two home runs. They became the first teammates to
Mike Clevinger and Dinelson Lamet were left off the wild-card series hit multiple homers in the same postseason game since Babe Ruth and
roster with arm injuries that forced them out of their final regular-season Lou Gehrig of the New York Yankees did it in Game 3 of the 1932 World
starts. Series, exactly 88 years ago Thursday night. That included Ruth's famed
Tingler said the Padres tapped the 36-year-old Stammen because he "called shot."
wasn't one of the nine pitchers they used in a thrilling 11-9 win Thursday Stammen had a seesaw regular season, going 4-2 with a 5.63 ERA in 24
night. Stammen threw 26 pitches in a scoreless inning in the Padres' 7-4 appearances. He hasn't started since 2010, when 19 of his 35 appear-
loss in Game 1. Tingler said Zach Davies, who started Game 2, and Chris ances for the Washington Nationals were starts.q