Inside Korda's 'lengthy journey again': No driving, crutches & loads of laborious work

It All Provides Up

Inside Korda’s ‘lengthy journey again’: No driving, crutches & loads of laborious work

Former World No. 15 discovering success following damage battle

March 07, 2026

When Sebastian Korda gained the Delray Seashore Open final month it was a memorable scene. With an enormous smile throughout his face, the American took his younger nephew, the son {of professional} golfer Jessica Korda, down from the stands and soaked within the second.

Final August, Korda fell to No. 86 within the PIF ATP Rankings, his lowest mark since April 2022. Largely, the drop was as a result of the American suffered a stress fracture in his proper shin that saved him out of motion for 3 months. From the lows of spending his days in a boot to claiming his third ATP Tour title, it has been an fascinating experience.

“It was cool. Had a protracted journey to get again to successful a title. Particularly with my complete household there, it was one thing I’ve by no means skilled earlier than,” Korda advised ATPTour.com. “It was emotional, it was cool. It was loads of laborious work behind the scenes, however I used to be simply tremendous pleased with it.”

It was solely the second time Korda’s nephew had been to a tennis match regardless of Uncle Sebi and Grandpa Petr Korda’s historical past within the sport. Jessica lives close by to Delray Seashore, so Sebastian frolicked at their home a bit. All was proper on the earth.

Lower than a 12 months in the past, Korda was in ache and bodily unable to do issues that the majority take without any consideration.

“It was powerful. I couldn’t drive round. I couldn’t do issues. I had some crutches for a few weeks as properly,” Korda mentioned. “It wasn’t a enjoyable expertise. I by no means realised how powerful crutches are as properly. It wasn’t a enjoyable time…

“Final 12 months was fairly darkish, and at any time when I’ve gone via an damage, I sort of disconnected myself slightly bit. Undoubtedly had tremendous powerful moments, however lots of people on the staff actually helped me come via.”

Sebastian Korda celebrates his Delray Seashore triumph with fiancée Ivana Nedved.” fashion=”width:100%;” src=”https://www.atptour.com/-/media/photos/information/2026/02/22/23/18/korda-delray-beach-2026-kiss.jpg”>Korda and fiancee Ivana Nedved in Delray Seashore. Photograph: Getty Photographs

Korda returned final August in Winston-Salem, the place he made the semi-finals. In his final match of the 12 months in Athens, the American once more made the semi-finals and fell simply brief to Prime-10 star Lorenzo Musetti in a three-set tussle. His tennis had not merely disappeared.

However there have been additionally tough moments: opening-round losses on the US Open and the Australian Open, for instance.

“The hardest half was coming again. Totally different environments, you sort of disconnect your self from the stress of taking part in matches and nerves and simply getting again to that and getting snug once more,” Korda mentioned. “Being in these conditions undoubtedly was the hardest half.”

It was not about forehands, backhands and even the serve. It has been concerning the psychological aspect of the game.

“You look via these moments, uncertainty, you do not know how you’ll carry out, perhaps [how you will] be with the stress,” Korda mentioned. “The psychological is certainly loads harder than the bodily.

“I felt like I used to be taking part in good tennis, however I could not actually translate it right into a match environment. I believe the final two months of simply taking part in a ton of matches has been actually serving to.” 

After dropping three consecutive matches in January, Korda performed an ATP Challenger Tour occasion in San Diego, the place he reached the ultimate. Since then, the 25-year-old superior to the quarter-finals on the ATP 500 in Dallas, lifted the trophy in Delray Seashore and is now competing within the first ATP Masters 1000 occasion of the season at Indian Wells, the place he’ll problem sixth seed Alex de Minaur within the second spherical.

Coach Ryan Harrison, who just lately joined Korda’s staff, has been pleased with what he has seen.

“He’s responding rather well to each state of affairs that comes at him,” Harrison mentioned. “Generally you will be in a match, and you will have some dangerous luck occur — guys will play properly, after which different instances you may not be feeling your finest on the very starting.”

However mentally, Korda has been locked in and navigating his means via matches, constructing extra confidence every time he steps on the court docket.

“Each time he is been taking part in, he is been discovering a solution to get higher and higher all through every match,” Harrison mentioned. “[He has been] very resilient on the market, even when there are these moments in a match that issues can get actually difficult to remain on it. He is been very, very sturdy mentally.

It has not been the best 12 months for Korda. However the former World No. 15 is shifting in the fitting course.

“Grateful for these experiences,” Korda mentioned. “After which realized from them and tried to get higher from them.”