Korda Secures 150th Tour-Level Win, Avenges Australian Open Loss in Dallas
Sebastian Korda began his campaign at the Nexo Dallas Open with a decisive victory over Michael Zheng on , earning his 150th career win on the ATP Tour. The win also provided Korda with a measure of retribution after a recent loss to Zheng at the Australian Open.
Korda dispatched Zheng 6-3, 6-4 in a commanding performance, continuing a strong run of form on home soil following a finalist appearance at an ATP Challenger Tour event in San Diego last week. The American now boasts a 150-100 record at the tour level, becoming the sixth player born in the 2000s to reach this milestone.
The match was characterized by Korda’s dominant serving performance. According to Infosys ATP Stats, he won 29 of 30 points on his first serve, losing only a single point throughout the entire match. He also successfully defended the only break point he faced, while serving to close out the opening set.
This victory leveled the Lexus ATP Head2Head series between Korda and Zheng at 1-1, after Zheng secured his first tour-level win against Korda at the Australian Open earlier this year.
Korda’s achievement places him among a select group of young players who have made significant strides in the professional tennis world. As of today, the leading tour-level win totals for players born since 2000 are:
| Player | Born | W-L |
| Sinner | 2001 | 326-87 |
| Alcaraz | 2003 | 287-65 |
| Auger-Aliassime | 2000 | 270-173 |
| Musetti | 2002 | 184-135 |
| Rune | 2003 | 175-107 |
| Korda | 2000 | 150-100 |
Elsewhere in Dallas, eighth-seeded Frances Tiafoe also advanced to the second round, overcoming Terence Atmane in a three-set match, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2. Tiafoe, now 4-0 in Dallas, is aiming for the biggest title of his career, having previously reached ATP 500 finals in Vienna (2021) and Tokyo (2022). He acknowledged a shift in his mental approach, stating, “It was kind of nice to get through that. Probably a year ago, last season, I’d lose a lot of those types of matches.” He emphasized his improved resilience and physical conditioning, adding, “To be able to not hit the panic button and keep going, trust my legs… I feel like I’m in great shape, so I can run and be tough out there.”
Brandon Nakashima also secured a spot in the second round with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Mattea Bellucci. However, third seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina prevented a complete American sweep on the day, defeating qualifier Zachary Svajda 6-4, 7-6(1). Davidovich Fokina is seeking his first ATP Tour title and his second indoor final, having reached the Basel title match last October.
The Nexo Dallas Open continues to showcase a blend of established stars and rising talents, with Korda and Tiafoe leading the charge for American success. Korda’s milestone win and subsequent advancement in the tournament signal a continued upward trajectory for the young American, while Tiafoe’s resilience and experience position him as a strong contender for the title.
