American tennis player Sebastian Korda faced a setback just days before his anticipated appearance at the Monte-Carlo Masters, as he fell victim to a robbery near the tournament courts. The incident, which occurred on April 4 in the Roquebrune-Cap-Martin commune, saw Korda being targeted for his prized €300,000 watch.

According to reports from France Bleu Azur, Korda was approached by “two helmeted individuals” as he stood near the staircase connecting Avenue de France and Avenue Varavilla. The assailants, riding a scooter, swiftly snatched the luxury timepiece before fleeing the scene. While the 23-year-old athlete emerged physically unharmed, the ordeal left him understandably shaken.

Korda’s association with Swiss luxury watchmaker Richard Mille added significance to the loss, as his timepiece bore the prestigious brand’s emblem. Renowned for its high-end craftsmanship, Richard Mille sponsors several prominent athletes, including 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal. Korda, following in the footsteps of his golfing sisters Jessica and Nelly Korda, had forged a partnership with the brand in 2022.

In the realm of tennis, Richard Mille’s watches have become synonymous with elite performance, with Nadal often showcasing the extravagant RM 27-02 Tourbillon during his matches. However, Korda’s choice for on-court attire was the Richard Mille RM67-02 Automatic Winding Extra Flat sports watch, a timepiece valued at £259,000, or just over €300,000.

The robbery comes as a blow to Korda, who had likely been gearing up for his campaign at the Monte-Carlo Masters. With the culprits still at large, authorities are actively pursuing leads to apprehend them.

While Korda’s watch may be irreplaceable, his focus now shifts to overcoming this setback and resuming his pursuit of success on the tennis court.

Sebastian Korda in 2024

Now ranked no.27, the American played his last match on the 10^th of April when he surrendered to world no.2 Jannik Sinner 6-1 6-2 in the 2^nd round in Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters (draw).

During this season the American achieved an overall 11-9 win-loss record. Sebastian Korda’s best accomplishment of the current season was getting to the semifinal in Adelaide.