ITF

MAKING THEIR MARK The first major junior titles of 2018 went to Chinese Taipei's Liang En Shuo and USA's Sebastian Korda, son of 1998 Aussie Open champ Petr. Sandra Harwitt reports. IF SEBASTIAN KORDA AND LIANG EN SHUO FOLLOWED THEIR ORIGINAL CHILDHOOD PATH THEY WOULD BE AN ICE HOCKEY player and pianist, respectively, instead of the 2018 Australian Open junior champions. Fortunately, fate intervened to enable tennis to become their chosen passion, which led them to their first significant achievements in the sport. In what appeared to be a date with destiny for the 17-year-old Korda, the seventh-seeded American prevailed 7-6(6) 6-4 over sixth-seeded Tseng Chun Hsin of Chinese Taipei in the boys' final. It was Korda's first time playing the Australian Open juniors, and his win came exactly 20 years after his dad, Petr, won the Australian Open men's singles trophy. The second-seeded Liang earned her first Grand Slam singles title with a 6-3 6-4 win over unseeded Clara Burel of France. "I start playing tennis at six because I was playing piano before," said the 17-year-old Liang. "My mum wanted me to have exercise, so she choose tennis for me. I give up the piano. I choose tennis. I love tennis more than piano." Upon winning the trophy, Liang only had one thought: "It's like a dream, (but) real. It's like I'm still in a dream. Cannot believe it." Korda's reaction to victory was, simply, Korda-esque. He did a big scissor-kick, which is the family trademark started by his dad. His eldest sister, Jessica, an LPGA golfer, did the move when she won her first major trophy at the Australia Women's Open at Royal Melbourne, and now dubs it on Twitter #itsaKordathing. "It's definitely special, including being here in Australia," Korda said of his victory. "I mean, my sister won her first title here, as well. My dad won his only Grand Slam title here, so it's very special." The entire Korda family is sporting. Mum, Regina Rajchrtova, was a Top 30 tennis player, and his other sister, Nelly, is also an LPGA player. He dedicated his win to his dad, who turned 50 a few days before Sebastian won the title, and to his mum, whose birthday was just a few days off in February. 'Sebi,' as the newest Australian Open boys' champion is nicknamed, left hockey behind for tennis when he was 10. "I give up the piano. I choose tennis. I love tennis more than piano" L I A N G E N S H U O Celebrating with the trophy The girls' champion in action S E N I O R S G R A N D S L A M S 34 ITFWorld // SPRING 2018

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