“I felt that I had lost that inner fire”: Sebastian Korda’s road to recovery and Miami Open upset over Tsitsipas

Sebastian Korda delivered one of Sunday’s biggest upsets by eliminating world No. 9 Stefanos Tsitsipas at the Miami Open. The American secured a comfortable 7-6, 6-3 victory — his ninth win over a top-10 player and his first since August 2024.

Since his early days on the Tour, Sebastian Korda — son of former Australian Open champion Petr Korda — has been hailed as one of the sport’s future stars. However, the 24-year-old has struggled with consistency, with injuries frequently disrupting his career.

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Korda, a former world No. 15 with two titles to his name, has yet to fully meet the expectations placed on him. Despite maintaining a steady presence among the Tour’s top players, he’s still searching for that breakthrough to become a serious contender in the sport’s biggest tournaments.

Tsitsipas entered the match as the favourite, especially with Korda arriving in Miami on a three-match losing streak. “The plan was very clear for both of us, and there were no secrets. Tsitsipas was going to target my forehand, and I was going to play to his backhand. I didn't start very well, but I found my rhythm quickly,” the American world No. 25 said on press conference, according to Punto de Break.

“I believe I played a very solid match, took my chances when they came, and I think that was the key today. I took more risks than him, approached the net more, and was more aggressive. I'm happy with how it went.”

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Korda recently battled an elbow injury that kept him off the Tour for five months, requiring surgery after the 2024 US Open. “I spent a lot of time off the court due to injuries. I felt that I had lost that inner fire in many matches. So, beating a top-10 player means a lot to me, especially in Miami, one of my favourite places to play.”

“I was in good form at the ATP Adelaide, but then I had a minor tear, which wasn't ideal. My main goal is to be healthy again, something I'm achieving because the last two years have been challenging in that regard.”

Korda will face the experienced Gael Monfils in the fourth round on Tuesday. The Frenchman comes into the clash after two gruelling victories, defeating Jiri Lehecka (26th seed) and Jaume Munar, both in third-set tiebreaks.

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