Sebastian Korda is thought of as one of the most promising American talents, and he's showing exactly why this week in Miami. The 20-year-old is into the last 16 at a Masters 1000 event for the first time in his career, and doing it with ease.
After upsetting No. 10 seed Fabio Fognini in the second round, he squared off with Aslan Karatsev, one of the hottest players of the season. Heading into the encounter with the Miami Open's No. 17 seed, one would have predicted an absolute battle, but after just 67 minutes Korda scored a 6-3, 6-0 victory over the fiery Russian.
The Florida-native clearly thrives on home soil; he reached the Delray Beach final earlier this season, edging past No. 5 seed Tommy Paul and upsetting No. 2 seed John Isner in the tournament's quarterfinal.
"It's been cool and it's been super special, for sure," Korda told press. I think I'm just so used to the Florida heat and the humidity, and some guys aren't used to it. I mean, it's not easy, not something easy to get used to. I kind of adapt really well to it."