World no. 26 Sebastian Korda will skip the season's second Masters 1000 event in Miami due to an ongoing right wrist injury. Thus, the young American joins Novak Djokovic on the list of players who will not compete in Florida this year.
Sebastian made a great start to the season, winning eight out of ten matches and playing at a high level in Adelaide and Melbourne. The young gun reached the Adelaide final and pushed Djokovic to the limits. They battled for three hours and nine minutes before Djokovic prevailed 6-7, 7-6, 6-4, fending off a match point in the second set and joining Rafael Nadal on 92 ATP titles.
Sebastian saved two set points in the opener and claimed it 7-6 after 73 minutes!
Sebastian Korda has not played since the Australian Open.
Djokovic produced five comfortable holds in the second set before facing a match point at 5-6.
The Serb denied it with a smash winner and held to introduce the second tie break. Novak clinched it 7-3 to force a decider after two hours and 17 minutes. Djokovic had no issues behind the initial shot in the opening four service games, playing well and missing two break chances in the fourth game that could have sent him in front.
Sebastian claimed four straight points from 30-0 down in the eighth game to level the score at 4-4 and increase the drama. Novak held after deuce in game nine, placing a backhand winner to move 5-4 up and force the rival to serve to stay in the match.
Korda wasted game points before missing a smash and offering Djokovic a match point. Novak converted it to celebrate the title and a perfect start to the season. Sebastian carried his form to the Australian Open and defeated Daniil Medvedev in straight sets in the third round.
The young American ousted Hubert Hurkacz in the fourth round after a thriller to advance into the last eight. Sebastian met Karen Khachanov in the quarter-final and retired due to a wrist injury in the third set. Korda is yet to compete again, missing all the action in February and skipping the season's first Masters 1000 event in Indian Wells.
The 22-year-old reached the third round in Miami last year, beating two Spaniards before falling to Miomir Kecmanovic. Sebastian is on the entry list for Estoril at the start of April, hoping to recover and continue where he left off in Australia.