Sebastian Korda revealed that he has a signed Rafael Nadal shirt in his room from his French Open debut in 2020. The American star earned the primary win of his damage comeback in Paris by defeating compatriot Mackenzie McDonald within the opening spherical at Roland Garros. And he opened up on his love for Nadal three years after dealing with him in Paris, with the 14-time champion missing this year’s tournament.

Korda made a successful return on the French Open in what was simply his third match since retiring injured on the Australian Open. Following a three-month break, the world No 30 notched a 6-4 7-5 6-4 win over McDonald to earn his first victory since January.

McDonald had defeated Nadal on the Aussie Open at the beginning of the yr, with the Spaniard choosing up a psoas damage that has derailed his season. The 14-time French Open champion was pressured to drag out of this yr’s match and has not performed a match since.

And Korda - a self-confessed Nadal superfan - was capable of get some revenge on behalf of his idol by beating the 28-year-old. Speaking after the match, Korda revealed that he nonetheless had a signed Nadal shirt hanging in his bed room after dealing with his hero within the fourth spherical of the 2020 French Open.

The American made no secret of his love for Nadal on the time, and the Spaniard later signed the shirt he wore throughout their match to present to Korda. “The signed Rafa shirt is hanging in my room,” the 22-year-old smiled, trying again on his Roland Garros debut.

“It was a really cool kind of period for me, and especially during the COVID year, then coming out, playing, luckily got a wildcard from the USTA, getting comfortable with everyone, two, three weeks in the bubble.

“Then just coming here, playing comfortable, playing one match at a time, got lucky enough to kind of make the fourth round, play against Rafa. I think that's where it all kind of started for me, and once again starting to feel comfortable around everyone.”

“I think that's one of the most impressive things in tennis history, maybe sports history, is how many times he's won here and how much he's dominated here. It definitely opens up the draw, that's for sure. But there is still so many unbelievable players playing.”

But he did again Nadal to be again to his regular self at subsequent yr’s French Open regardless of his latest bodily woes. “Yeah, he's definitely missed, but I think next year he'll be back here and back to his old ways,” Korda added.