everything adds up
Koda’s “long journey back”: not driving, using crutches, and having to do a lot of hard work
Former world No. 15 finds success after injury battle
March 7, 2026
ATP Tour
Sebastian Korda moves up to No. 15 in the PIF ATP rankings.
Andrew Eikenholz
It was an unforgettable scene when Sebastian Korda won the Delray Beach Open last month. With a huge smile on his face, the American came down from the stands with his young nephew, the son of professional golfer Jessica Korda, to soak in the moment.
Last August, Korda fell to No. 86 in the PIF ATP Rankings, his lowest ranking since April 2022. Much of that drop was due to a stress fracture in the American’s lower right leg that sidelined him for three months. It’s been an interesting journey from wearing boots through the lows to winning a third ATP Tour title.
“It’s cool. It’s been a long journey to win the championship. Especially with my whole family there, it’s something I’ve never experienced before,” Korda told ATPTour.com. “It’s very touching and very cool. There’s a lot of hard work behind the scenes, but I’m very happy with it.”
Although Uncle Sebi and Grandpa Peter Korda have a long history in the sport, this is only the second time Korda’s nephew has competed in a tennis tournament. Jessica lives near Delray Beach, so Sebastian hung out at their house. All is well with the world.
Less than a year ago, Koda was in pain and physically unable to do the things most people take for granted.
“It was tough. I couldn’t drive around. I couldn’t do things. I was on crutches for weeks,” Korda said. “It was not a fun experience. I never realized how hard the crutches were. It was not a fun time…
“Last year was a very dark year and whenever I went through injuries, I kind of separated myself a little bit. There were really tough times, but a lot of people on the team really helped me get through it.”
Sebastian Korda celebrates his victory in Delray Beach with fiancée Ivana Nedved. ” style=”width:100%;” src=”https://www.atptour.com/-/media/images/news/2026/02/22/23/18/korda-delray-beach-2026-kiss.jpg”>
Koda and fiancée Ivana Nedved in Delray Beach. Photo: Getty Images
Korda returned to Winston-Salem last August, where she reached the semifinals. In the final tournament of the year in Athens, the American once again reached the semifinals, trailing only top-10 star Lorenzo Musetti in three sets. His tennis didn’t simply disappear.
But there were difficult moments: first-round losses at the US Open and Australian Open, for example.
“The hardest part is coming back. A different environment where you can take yourself away from the pressure and tension of the game and then get back out there and feel comfortable again,” Korda said. “Being in these situations is definitely the hardest part.”
It’s not about the forehand, backhand or even the serve. It’s about the mental aspect of the sport.
“You look back at those moments with a lot of uncertainty and you don’t know how you’re going to perform, maybe [how you will] “The mental stress is definitely a lot greater than the physical stress,” Korda said.
“I felt like I was playing well, but I couldn’t really translate that into the atmosphere of the game. I think playing a lot of games the last two months really helped.”
After losing three straight matches in January, Korda competed in an ATP Challenger Tour event in San Diego and reached the final. The 25-year-old has since advanced to the quarter-finals of the ATP 500 in Dallas, lifted the trophy in Delray Beach and is now competing in the first ATP Masters 1000 of the season in Indian Wells, where he will challenge sixth seed Alex De Minaur in the second round.
Coach Ryan Harrison, who recently joined Korda’s staff, is pleased with what he’s seen.
“He responded well to every situation he was thrown into,” Harrison said. “Sometimes you get some bad luck in a game – guys will play well but sometimes you might not feel your best right off the bat.”
But mentally, Korda is locked in and feeling his way through the game, building more confidence every time he steps on the court.
“Every time he plays, he’s looking for a way to get better and better every game,” Harrison said. “[He has been] Even there are moments in the game where it can be very tricky to hold on. His mental power is very, very strong.
This has not been the easiest year for Koda. But the former world No. 15 is heading in the right direction.
“Grateful for these experiences,” Korda said. “Then learn from them and try to get better from them.”
