“If he can stay injury-free…”: Rick Macci predicts Grand Slam glory for Sebastian Korda in 2025:

Former Serena Williams coach Rick Macci has expressed high praise for Sebastian Korda, suggesting he could win a Grand Slam title this season if he stays injury-free. The 24-year-old American ended the season ranked World No. 22 and is set to begin 2025 at the Brisbane International.

Korda's last match was at the US Open, where he reached the second round before falling to Czech player Tomas Machac. Following the loss, Korda underwent surgery on his right elbow, requiring several months of recovery before returning to the tour.

This year, Korda secured his first ATP 500 title at the DC Open. He also reached the final in Libema Open s-Hertogenbosch and the semifinals of tournaments like the Canadian Open (Masters 1000) and Queen’s Club Championships. However, he fell short in Grand Slam events, failing to advance past the second week.

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Starting the year ranked in the top 30, Korda struggled in major tournaments. He faced tough losses in the third round of the Australian Open and Roland Garros against Andrey Rublev (5th) and Carlos Alcaraz (3rd), respectively. At Wimbledon, an unknown Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard eliminated him.

“He has the talent. He has the game. If he can stay injury-free and play the entire year, a GRAND SLAM title for Sebby Korda is very near,” Rick Macci wrote on Instagram.

Korda’s best Grand Slam performance came at the 2023 Australian Open, where he achieved impressive wins over Daniil Medvedev and Hubert Hurkacz. However, a wrist injury forced him to retire during his quarterfinal match against Karen Khachanov, with the score at 6-7, 3-6, 0-3. This injury sidelined him for over three months.

Sebastian Korda carries the legacy of his father, Petr Korda, who won the Australian Open in 1998, defeating former World No. 1 Marcelo Rios in the final. “Obviously, I would love to be better than my dad. My ultimate goal in tennis is to win two Grand Slams, one more than my dad,” Korda said at the end of 2023.

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“Tennis is something that I just love doing. It doesn’t matter if it’s playing or watching—I watch tennis all day long, basically. I just really enjoy being here, really enjoy playing tennis,” Korda added.

Korda will kick off his 2025 campaign at the Brisbane International on Monday, December 30, where he will face Frenchman Arthur Cazaux (No. 63). If he progresses, he could meet 2024 Newcomer of the Year Jakub Mensik (No. 48), who plays a qualifier in the first round.

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