2021 US Open First Round – Sebastian Korda vs Nikoloz Basilashvili Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
Where is Sebastian Korda vs Nikoloz Basilashvili taking place? Sebastian Korda vs Nikoloz Basilashvili will take place at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, New York, USA
When is Sebastian Korda vs Nikoloz Basilashvili on and what time does it start? Tuesday 31st August, 2021 – not before 19:15 (UK)
What surface is Sebastian Korda vs Nikoloz Basilashvili being played on? Sebastian Korda vs Nikoloz Basilashvili will take place on an outdoor hard court
Where can I get tickets for Sebastian Korda vs Nikoloz Basilashvili? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Sebastian Korda vs Nikoloz Basilashvili
What channel is Sebastian Korda vs Nikoloz Basilashvili on in the UK? Amazon have exclusive rights to show the 2021 US Open in the UK so it is worth checking the Amazon Prime Video app on smart TVs for Sebastian Korda vs Nikoloz Basilashvili
Where can I stream Sebastian Korda vs Nikoloz Basilashvili in the UK? Amazon Prime subscribers may be able to stream Sebastian Korda vs Nikoloz Basilashvili live via their platform
THE LOWDOWN
SEBASTIAN KORDA
21-year-old Sebastian Korda is well touted as a near-future top 10 star and he reached a career-high 45th in the ATP world rankings at the start of August after a stunning run to the round of 16 at Wimbledon. The American comes from a remarkable sporting family full of success stories and he claimed his first ATP title to join them earlier this year at the Emilia-Romagna Open. The last four players to beat Korda are all seeds at the US Open, which shows the direction he is headed.
NIKOLOZ BASILASHVILI
Nikoloz Basilashvili has won two ATP titles this season, on hard courts at the Qatar Open and on clay at the Munich Open. The 29-year-old struggles with consistency from tournament to tournament but five overall titles shows his ability for the occasional week where everything falls neatly into place. Basilashvili has failed to make it past the second round of any Grand Sla since the 2019 US Open and he achieved his best showing at a major here by reaching the round of 16 the year before.
THE PREDICTION
This could be one of the matches of the first round between America’s next big prospect Sebastian Korda and Nikoloz Basilashvili. Korda’s run to the round of 16 at Wimbledon last month was a big example of what the unflappable 21-year-old is capable of but he has struggled to stay consistent at times over the course of his first full year on tour. Basilashvili is also guilty of that, although the Georgian number one’s two ATP titles this season prove that when firing on all cylinders it takes a top player to beat him. This first meeting has more questions than answers but there feels like at least one peak and one trough in this for both players is likely. Take both to win a set here and leave the winner up to chance.
