Servebot comedy: Korda Michelsen mic'd up in Washington

pThe 2024 ATP Tour Doubles Trialrsquo;s first week of micrsquo;ing up players for live action is already producing unforgettable moments./p

pOn Wednesday evening, singles stars a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/sebastian-korda/k0ah/overview'Sebastian Korda/a and a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/alex-michelsen/m0qi/overview'Alex Michelsen/a wore microphones during their first-round victory against a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/julian-cash/ci96/overview'Julian Cash/a and a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/robert-galloway/g09v/overview'Robert Galloway/a at the a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/tournaments/washington/418/overview'Mubadala Citi DC Open/a, and they certainly made it fun for the fans watching mdash; and listening mdash; to the match./p

pldquo;I donrsquo;t think Irsquo;ve ever been more nervous for a doubles match,rdquo; Korda joked when they walked on court./p

pldquo;Irsquo;m a little tight, I wonrsquo;t lie. Irsquo;m a little tight,rdquo; Michelsen said./p

p/p

pA few seconds later when the players stepped to the net for the coin toss, Michelsen told his opponents, a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/julian-cash/ci96/overview'Julian Cash/a and a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/robert-galloway/g09v/overview'Robert Galloway/a, ldquo;Irsquo;ve got the mic on, so donrsquo;t say anything you shouldnrsquo;t say!rdquo;/p

pThere was plenty of lighthearted commentary from the players as the match wore on. Korda had a great serving match, leading to his partner calling him ldquo;Servebotrdquo; and ldquo;Johnrdquo;, in reference to a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/john-isner/i186/overview'John Isner/a, the career aces leader according to Infosys ATP Stats./p

pThe players discussed tactics, where they felt they could play against their opponents, and also complimented different parts of their game. But a lot of their chatter during the match was on the more lighthearted side./p

pldquo;Letrsquo;s go baby,rdquo; Korda said./p

pldquo;Whenever I hit two hands on the backhand [volley], I just donrsquo;t miss it,rdquo; Michelsen said./p

pldquo;Always got to go two hands,rdquo; Korda replied./p

pAfter the first set, Korda and Michelsen enjoyed a fun back-and-forth discussion about their aim for the second set./p

pldquo;First game break again here or what?rdquo; Michelsen asked./p

pldquo;I mean, Irsquo;m not against it,rdquo; Korda replied, cracking a laugh./p

[ATP APP]

pPart of this weekrsquo;s ATP Tour Doubles Trial is that there are a maximum of 21 seconds between all points and 60-second changeovers, with time called after 40 seconds. The set breaks are slightly longer, so when Korda and Michelsen were quickly ready to go and their opponents were still resting, comedy ensued./p

pldquo;Is there a time violation in their future or is it different?rdquo; Michelsen asked the chair umpire, who replied that set breaks are longer./p

pldquo;Oh okay I didnrsquo;t know that,rdquo; Michelsen said./p

pldquo;So we could have recovered like an extra 20 seconds!rdquo; Korda added./p

pldquo;We needed the extra 20 seconds,rdquo; Michelsen said. ldquo;I needed it, I played singles. I needed 20 seconds!rdquo;/p

pKorda and Michelsen will play second seeds a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/max-purcell/ph71/overview'Max Purcell/a and a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/jordan-thompson/tc61/overview'Jordan Thompson/a on Thursday in the quarter-finals./p

p[NEWSLETTER FORM]/p