Sebastian Korda reflected on his journey back to form after defeating Carlos Alcaraz at the Miami Open. Asked about the depth of men’s tennis and how important the weeks following the Australian Open were for his confidence, Korda admitted that his decision to play in San Diego was pivotal.
“Obviously I needed certain things. That’s the reason why I went to go play San Diego, was just to try to put myself in those stressful situations. I’d been injured for so long, missed so many months, got down a really dark hole,” Korda said, acknowledging the challenges he faced in returning to competition.
Building resilience in tough matches
Korda explained that competing in San Diego allowed him to rediscover his rhythm and mental strength.
“Those were important weeks for me to just kind of figure myself out. Obviously I wasn’t playing the tennis I’m playing today. Especially mentally, I didn’t feel great. It gave me a little bit of a boost of confidence to throw myself back in those stressful situations, put myself in a match, live in those nasty moments during a match,” he added.
The turning point for confidence
The American emphasized that without the San Diego experience, his Miami success might not have been possible.
“Definitely helped me. If I didn’t play San Diego, I don’t think I’d be sitting here right now,” Korda concluded, highlighting how those matches provided the foundation for his breakthrough victory over Alcaraz.
Korda’s win in Miami not only boosted his confidence but also showcased the depth of men’s tennis, where opportunities can arise quickly for players willing to fight through adversity. His resilience and ability to rebuild after injury underline the competitive spirit driving the ATP Tour.
ATP Miami - Sebastian Korda's projected path
Korda in Miami, ranking, and results in 2026
Now the world no.36, the American achieved a composed 16-6 match record in 2026. Sebastian is now competing in Miami where he managed to beat the world no.66 Camilo Ugo Carabelli 6-0 6-3 and the world no.1 Carlos Alcaraz 6-3 5-7 6-4.
Sebastian Korda will face the world no.151 Martin Landaluce in the 4th round. In the past, they have never played each other so far in top competitions.
Korda conquered 1 title in 2026 in Delray Beach. Sebastian got to the final in the San Diego Challenger.
