TENNIS
Korda claims maiden ATP Tour title in Parma
The unseeded Sebastian Korda became the first American for 11 years to win an ATP Tour title on European clay in Parma.
Sebastian Korda won the first ATP Tour title of his career with a straight-sets defeat of Marco Cecchinato in the Emilia-Romagna Open final on Saturday.
Korda became the first American man to be crowned a champion on clay in Europe for 11 years, beating the Italian wildcard 6-2 6-4 in Parma.
The unseeded 20-year-old son of former world number two Petr Korda did not drop a set this week and will head to the French Open with his confidence sky-high.
Korda won 82 per cent of points behind his first serve and broke three times to get the better of Cecchinato at the President Tennis Club.
Proud day for Korda
The Florida native took just an hour and 15 minutes to become the first American man since Sam Querrey in Belgrade back in 2010 to win a title in Europe on this surface.
His victory ensured the Kordas are the third father-son duo to win ATP Tour-level singles titles in the Open Era, emulating Ramanathan Krishnan and Ramesh Krishnan, and Phil Dent and Taylor Dent.
World number 63 Korda will face Spaniard Pedro Martinez in the first round at Roland Garros next week.