The Man Who Frustrated Marcelo Ríos’ Grand Slam Dream

Petr Korda, the Czech tennis legend, once stood in the way of Marcelo Ríos‘s Grand Slam dream. In 1998, Korda emerged victorious over Ríos in the US Open final, leaving Chilean fans heartbroken.

Korda’s US Open Triumph

“Probably, he paid the price of being his first time in a Grand Slam final. I think I dominated every corner of the court that day.”— Petr Korda

Korda revealed his dominance in their final match, and not just on the court. He also shared a dinner incident with Ríos:

“We went to dinner with my wife and friend. Ríos was there, I wanted to beat the Shots. He tried to win in the drinks. But it was also very fast and simple to win. It was not a contest for me. There was even less competition than on the court.”— Petr Korda

Ríos’ ImitationResponse

After defeating Ríos, Korda witnessed Ríos imitate him. He reflected on the incident:

“That tells you who Marcelo Ríos was. The Limón player.”— Petr Korda

A referees Doping Case & Unusual Punishment

Korda’s career was marked by a doping case, receiving a unique punishment – his points and prize money were striped only from Wimbledon, where he initially tested positive.

FAQs

Q: Who prevented Marcelo Ríos from winning a Grand Slam?

A: Petr Korda

Q: What happened to Korda’s career due to a doping case?

A: He was punished only for Wimbledon, losing points and prize money.

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