Sebastian Korda praises John McEnroe’s ‘reflective’ advice to ATP Tour after Carlos Alcaraz distraught

match response

Korda praises McEnroe’s ‘self-reflection’ advice after Alcaraz upset

The 25-year-old American reflects on meeting McEnroe earlier this season

March 23, 2026

Sebastian Korda’s breakthrough victory over the world number one at the Miami Open at ETA on Sunday may have stemmed from a recent conversation with another former number one, John McEnroe.

The 25-year-old American recorded the biggest win of his career in Miami, defeating Carlos Alcaraz in three sets to reach the fourth round. Korda has since pointed to a crucial meeting earlier this season with ATP No. 1 club member and seven-time Grand Slam champion McEnroe as a turning point in his resurgence.

“I was actually very lucky in Dallas. John McEnroe was playing an exhibition match there,” Korda explained, referring to meeting McEnroe at the ATP 500 in Dallas in February. “He spent a few minutes talking to me. That was one of the things we really talked about: finding my identity on the court. [We] Just talked about who I am as a person and what I’m going through.

“He’s great. Especially [with] A player like him, you just look at what he thinks about my game and what he thinks I can use to try to play better tennis. One of the things he said was, “You have to do some self-reflection.” You have to figure out who you are. You have to figure out why you play tennis, why you love tennis. I think that was a big key for me. Thanks for taking the time to do this. “

Korda’s road back to this level has been far from easy. The former world No. 15 missed two and a half months in 2025 with a stress fracture in his right tibia, and has since slipped to No. 86 in the PIF ATP rankings. Although he returned late in the season, it’s only now, during the North American swing in early 2026, that he’s starting to find his rhythm again.

After losing to Michael Cheng in the first round of the Australian Open, Korda chose to compete in the ATP Challenger Tour in San Diego, where he reached the final. Following a meeting with McEnroe in Dallas shortly after – a moment he now considers crucial – he carried the momentum to Delray Beach, where he captured his third ATP Tour title.

Now in Miami, he is one win away from his best finish at the Masters 1000 event, having previously advanced to the quarterfinals in South Florida in 2021 and 2025.

“I needed something. That’s why I went to San Diego to play, just to put myself in those pressure situations,” Korda said when asked about his decision to play in San Diego. “I was injured for so long, out for so many months, and fell into a very dark hole. Those were important weeks for me to figure myself out.

“Obviously I didn’t play the tennis that I was playing today. Especially mentally, I didn’t feel good. It gave me a little bit of confidence to get back into those pressure situations and put myself in the game, live those nasty moments in the game, just those stressful situations. It really helped me. If I hadn’t played in the tournament, I don’t think I would be sitting here right now.”

That renewed clarity was reflected in his dramatic clash with Alcaraz, his first against the world No. 1. Kodak looked set to win in straight sets, but failed to serve at 5-4 in the second set, allowing the Spaniard to fight back and force the match into a decider.

With viewers largely sensing Alcaraz’s comeback, Korda was tasked with steadying himself emotionally once again. However the 25-year-old stepped up and regained control of the match in the third set for a statement victory, handing the top seed his second defeat in three matches.

“I love playing in a hostile environment,” Korda said when asked about the crowd. “Luckily, I play some of my best tennis when the crowd is against you. But they were both great. They didn’t do anything to me. It was fun, especially when the crowd started cheering.

“Whether it works for me or against me, I really enjoy playing in this environment. Hopefully I can continue to climb the rankings. Hopefully people will support me and me [will] Try to enjoy this moment a little more. “

Korda’s improvement also coincides with a recent addition to his team, with former 40-year-old Ryan Harrison joining his coaching staff last month. Korda explained that the partnership brought a sense of balance that began to show in his performances.

“It’s fun. We work really hard. I think one of the best things about Ryan is we do the work, we talk, we talk, and then we try to act normal,” Korda said. “We don’t try to overdo it in tennis or try to have too many emotions.

“I think it really helped me that even after a tough game I was able to speak out, move on, learn from my mistakes and ultimately have fun again.”

Korda will next play his first Lexus ATP Head2Head event in Miami against 20-year-old Spanish qualifier Martin Landaluce, who is competing in the fourth round of the Masters 1000 event for the first time in his fledgling career.