World no. 30 Sebastian Korda lost in the Roland Garros second round. The American lost to Sebastian Ofner 6-3, 7-6, 6-4 in two hours and 35 minutes, failing to repeat his Parisian run from 2020 and 2021. Ofner qualified for the main draw and scored two wins to replicate his best result at Majors, reaching the Wimbledon third round in 2017. The Austrian served at 51%, which was not an obstacle. Ofner claimed 85% of the points behind the first serve and lost serve three times from six chances offered to Korda. The American struggled on the first and second serve, giving away 46% of the points behind the initial shot and experiencing six breaks to propel the rival over the top. Ofner tamed his strokes more efficiently and destroyed Korda in the shortest range up to four strokes. The Austrian found the rhythm straight on, serving well in the first set and securing it with a couple of breaks. Korda struggled with a wrist injury since the Australian Open, feeling better only in Rome and needing more time to return to his 100%.
Sebastian Korda fell to Sebastian Ofner in the Roland Garros second round.
The American made the worst start, spraying a backhand error in the encounter’s first game to lose serve at love. The Austrian served well and held at love in game six with a service winner for 4-2. Ofner opened a 5-3 gap with another powerful serve and clinched the first set with his second break in game nine after Korda’s forehand mistake. They traded breaks at the start of the second set ahead of game five that offered almost ten deuces. Korda seized the fourth break chance after the rival’s backhand error and held in the next one for 4-2. Ofner pulled the break back in the eighth game before hitting a double fault in the next one to lose serve and fall 5-4 behind.
Korda served for the set in the tenth game and experienced a break after the rival’s backhand crosscourt winner. Two commanding holds sent them into a tie break, and the Austrian claimed the opening five points for a massive advantage. The American netted a forehand in the sixth point, offering his rival five set points. Ofner seized the first with a service winner to wrap up the set and move closer to the finish line after an hour and 49 minutes. Korda faced two break points in the third set’s seventh game and denied them to remain in touch. However, Ofner passed him with a backhand down the line stroke in the ninth game to grab a crucial break and serve for the victory at 5-4. The Austrian fired a service winner on a match point to repeat his best result at Majors and move into the third round.