Player of the Day: Sebastian Korda

WATCH: Tennis Channel Live discusses the No. 1 seed Ash Barty's opportunity to win the title at the Australian Open.

Last year, Sebastian Korda decided to forgo a trip to Australia in favor of trying to get more matches in by starting his season at an ATP 250 event in Delray Beach. His gamble was rewarded and he reached his career’s first ATP final that same week.

It’s that style of keen and thoughtful decision-making that has always set the 21-year-old American apart as he’s continued his steady rise up the rankings. By the time the 2018 Australian Open junior champion finally made his long-awaited pro debut Down Under, he was sitting inside the Top 50 with an ATP title under his belt.

That’s probably why world No. 43 Korda looked right at home at the Kia Arena on Monday as he took on the No. 12 seed Cameron Norrie in his first match of the year. Despite his lead-up being less than ideal—Korda tested positive upon arrival in Australia and had to isolate, forcing him out of Adelaide—there were no signs of rust as he powered to a statement 6-3, 6-0, 6-4 victory.

The 21-year-old commemorated his win with a scissor-kick jump in celebration—a salute to his dad and coach Petr Korda’s famous victory pose.

“[There is] a lot of history in the family here in Australia, my dad winning [the 1998 Australian Open title] here and then both my sisters winning the Australian women's golf tournament,” Korda acknowledged. “So it's lots of success here in Australia, and I'm always super happy to be here.”

Korda will take on France's Corentin Moutet in the second round.