Korda on fiancée Nedved: 16 years knowing, 5 years dating & 99-1 wedding planning

Korda reflects on Nedved's importance before Alcaraz showdown

Sebastian Korda

Sebastian Korda is engaged to Ivana Nedved. By Andrew Eichenholz

Sebastian Korda will walk on court Sunday to face World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz at the Miami Open presented by Itau carrying plenty of momentum, having won an ATP Tour title in February at Delray Beach and reached an ATP Challenger Tour final earlier in the year. But things are not only going well for the American on the court.

Less than five months ago, Korda proposed to his longtime partner, Ivana Nedved, whom he met aged nine.

“We started dating five years ago and she’s just the person I want to spend the rest of my life with,” Korda said. “And it couldn't have been an easier choice than to ask her to marry me.”

The engagement came just days before Korda’s final tournament of the year, in Athens, where the 25-year-old pushed eventual Nitto ATP Finals competitor Lorenzo Musetti to the brink in the semi-finals.

So far this season, Korda has beaten three opponents who have reached the Top 10 in the PIF ATP Rankings, and he has won 13 of his past 16 matches at all levels. After lifting the trophy in Delray Beach, Korda enjoyed a special moment with his young nephew, the son of sister and LPGA star Jessica Korda. Sebi’s other sister, Nelly Korda, was also recently engaged.

Family means everything to Korda, and Nedved plays a major role in that. Through the struggles and successes, she has always been by his side.

“She's honestly one of the most positive people that I have in my life. She always sees the bright side of everything,” Korda said. “She always tells me how it is if I'm doing something wrong. She's not scared to tell me the things that I'm doing wrong and things that I can do better. And it's just a great mix. She really cares about me as a tennis player, but most importantly, as a human being as well.”

Nedved does not have a background in tennis, but is always there to listen to Korda, provide any advice she can and, importantly, enjoy life away from the tennis courts.

“It's refreshing to just turn off the tennis side of everything and just be a regular person, go to dinners, explore some cities and just enjoy our time,” Korda said. “We love going to the zoo together. It's just nice to turn off, not think about the tennis that much and just enjoy each other's time together and the life that we're living.”

Korda explained that Nedved “sacrifices a lot” to support him, spending a lot of time on the road and away from her own family. So the former No. 15 player in the PIF ATP Rankings always tries to find ways to be there for his partner, too.

Watch highlights of Korda winning Delray Beach title

The three-time ATP Tour titlist has learned a lot from Nedved over the years, with the biggest lesson he has taken from her being the importance of being happy as a person above all — sporting and otherwise.

“I feel like once you're happy as a person, the rest follows,” Korda said. “You're much happier on court, you don't have to deal with anything that you don't really have to deal with and just to be happy.”

These days are especially exciting for Korda and Nedved, with plenty of wedding planning to do. That is even more reason for them to be able to leave tennis talk behind once their day at the courts is done.

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