American qualifier Sebastian Korda has described being schooled by idol Rafa Nadal on the French Open's biggest stage as the "coolest moment of my life".
The 20-year-old, ranked 213th in the world, but clearly on his way higher, earned several "bravos" from the 34-year-old Spaniard, who is chasing his 13th title at Roland Garros.
And despite losing 6-1 6-1 6-2, Korda was full of beans, when he spoke later about experiencing the power of the claycourt king at such close quarters, after watching him for years on TV.
"It was definitely the best moment of my life," says Korda, who made his Grand Slam debut at the US Open as a wildcard this year. "It was super awesome.
"I think, after the match, I asked him for a signed shirt when we were tapping rackets. I don't know if anyone's ever asked him for an autograph after a match, but that was definitely the coolest moment of my life and one I'll never forget for sure."
After beating fellow qualifier Pedro Martinez on Saturday, Korda - son of 1992 Roland Garros runner-up Petr - revealed that Nadal was the reason he played tennis and that he had named his pet cat after the Spanish great.
His admiration went to another level on Monday.
"I don't know, just seeing him across the net," says Korda. "I mean, ever since I was a kid, I was in love with him and everything about him.
"I would watch every single match."
While he admitted he was "as tight as could be" in the warm-up, the tall Korda worried Nadal in the first two games and could have been 2-0 ahead, instead of 2-0 down.
After that, it was a matter of snatching a few games here and there, although Korda did lead 2-0 in the third set, when Nadal briefly lost his focus, before reeling off the last six games to reach his 42nd Grand Slam quarter-final.
"The first game was massive for me," says Korda. "Unfortunately, I couldn't close it in the break point."
Meanwhile, German Alexander Zverev says he played with a fever and breathing difficulties during his fourth-round French Open defeat to Italian teenager Jannik Sinner, raising questions about the COVID-19 protocols at the clay court Grand Slam.
Zverev appeared to be in discomfort and was seen coughing on court during the match against Sinner, and called for the doctor and trainer. He kept pointing at his throat and later took a pill.
The German player says he had been ill since his third-round win against Italian Marco Cecchinato and had a body temperature of 38C.
"It was nothing wrong, but I am completely sick after the match with Cecchinato in the night," says Zverev. "Yeah, what can I say? I'm completely sick.
"I can't really breathe, as you can hear by my voice. I had fever, you know, as well - it was 38.
"It was 38 in the night or in the evening."
French Government guidelines state that a person with COVID-19 symptoms - a body temperature above 38C, a cough, sore throat, headache, muscle ache, loss of smell or taste - needs to isolate for seven days and immediately make an appointment for a test.
As per French Open guidelines, players are regularly tested for the novel coronavirus, but Zverev declined to answer when he was last tested.
A spokesman for the French tennis federation (FFT) - organisers of the French Open - has told Reuters that he does not know what the tournament's protocol says about players with COVID-19 symptoms.
Reuters
