Jannik Sinner won the 2024 Australian Open, as he brought home his maiden Major title, beating Daniil Medvedev in the final.

It was a great week for the Italian star, who had scored his third career win against ten-time champion Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals.

Several other ATP stars had notable performances in Australia, including Alexander Zverev who made the semi-finals, before losing out on a place in the final to Medvedev.

It was a great tournament, and one that will no doubt excite fans once more in 2025, as players look to pick up the first Slam of the year.

Something that one Czech tennis legend was able to do, all the way back in 1998.

Petr Korda: The man who won the 1998 Australian Open before retiring one year later

Pete Sampras was the heavy favorite to win the 1998 Australian Open, entering the tournament as the number one seed, and having won the title in 1997.

The American picking up an 11th Grand Slam title seemed like an inevitability, as he breezed into the quarter-finals without dropping a set.

It was there where he came up against Slovakian star Karol Kucera, who produced one of the biggest shocks in tournament history, as he stunned Sampras in four sets.

With Sampras’ exit confirmed, the tennis world anticipated a first-time Slam winner amongst the remaining quarter-final participants.

Of the seven remaining, it was former French Open finalist Petr Korda and Chilean star Marcelo Rios who advanced to the final.

Korda had battled back from two sets down against Jonas Bjorkman in the quarter-finals, who had assumed the role of ‘favorite’ following Sampras’ elimination.

Rios also looked in fine form, dropping just three sets all tournament, as he qualified for his maiden Major final.

Form that quickly evaporated, however, as the Czech world number 13 took charge, winning the first set 6-2.

Korda had come out swinging, and was playing aggressively against his more inexperienced opponent.

A quick first set was a sign of things to come, as Korda came out a 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 winner in just 85 minutes, clinching his one and only Major title.

The first Australian Open final between two left-handed players in 21 years was won by Korda, as he lifted the trophy in Melbourne.

Korda was on top of the world, but there wasn’t too much time to bask in his glory, as his world came crashing down just a few short months later.

As the number three seed, Korda advanced to the quarter-finals of Wimbledon for the first time in his career, coming up against home favorite Tim Henman for a place in the last four.

The Brit stormed to victory, easing into the semi-finals with a straight sets victory, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.

What happened after the match, however, changed Korda’s life, as he failed a drugs test, testing positive for the banned substance Nandrolone.

Various appeals and rulings followed before Korda announced his retirement from the sport one year later, at the 1999 Wimbledon tournament.

Just 18 months after winning the Australian Open, the former world number two’s career was over, leaving fans with more questions than answers.

His legacy is more than just a Grand Slam title, however, as his son continues to put the Korda name on the map.

Sebastian Korda: The man who reached the Australian Open quarter-finals 25 years after his dad won the title

Sebastian Korda is a name that most tennis fans will be familiar with, as he continues to impress on the ATP Tour with several impressive performances.

Korda reached the Canadian Open semi-finals in 2024, as he made the last four of a Masters 1000 event for the second time.

It was in 2023, however, when he truly broke out with a fantastic week in Melbourne, 25 years after his fathers title winning campaign.

Korda entered the 2023 Australian Open tournament as the 29th seed and soon showed why so many have high hopes for the young American.

The now 24-year-old stormed into the quarter-finals with impressive wins over some of the ATP Tour’s most recognizable names.

• First round – Beat Crisitan Garin in four sets
• Second round – Beat Yosuke Watanuki in three sets
• Third round – Beat Daniil Medvedev in three sets
• Fourth round – Beat Hubert Hurkacz in five sets

Taking down Medvedev in the third round, who was a losing finalist in Melbourne in both 2021, and 2022, made the tennis world take notice of Korda.

With the spotlight firmly on him, he delivered, as he booked his place in the last eight with a stunning five set win over Hubert Hurkacz.

Coming through a fifth set tie-breaker 10-7, Korda began preparing for a first career quarter-final against Russia’s Karen Khachanov.

It was there that he came unstuck, as Korda trailed by two sets to love before retiring with an injury to his right wrist.

An injury that saw Korda out of action until the Madrid Open in April, where he lost in the second round.

Injuries have become an unfortunate recurring theme in the American’s career, with Korda recently receiving surgery on his elbow ahead of the 2025 season.

Now back fit, Korda will be looking to make history at the Australian Open, by becoming the first son to repeat the success of their father and win a Grand Slam title.

The 2025 Australian Open is set to begin on January 12 in Melbourne.

Related Topics