Bulking Up: Korda Building The Body For Big Time Tennis

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Re-built and ready for grass, Sebastian Korda is hoping to see the effects of his recent work with fitness trainer Jez Green when he continues his comeback from injury at the Cinch Championships this week.

The American was sidelined for three months following the Australian Open due to a wrist injury, but made the time out count, teaming with Green in a bid to bulk up.

“It was a long period of time out, but in some ways it was good and in some ways it was bad. I couldn't play for a long time, but I had a really good opportunity to kind of work on my body with my new fitness trainer Jez Green and I am just very excited to be on grass,” Korda told ATPTour.com “I am still kind of getting the legs and the body used to playing tennis again, but I am slowly and surely getting there.”

Green, who has worked with former World No. 1 Andy Murray, joined Korda’s team earlier this year and quickly devised a new fitness plan for the 22-year-old. The American provided insight into their recent work.

“He has been with a bunch of super top-level players, so he was one of the best additions to my team recently. We have been building a body that will handle major tennis and big-time tennis,” said Korda, who recently said he gained seven kgs during his time out. “It takes a big toll on the body, so having that belief in the body that you can last gives you a lot of confidence.

“We have worked up a whole new programme that I'm getting used to. I never went to tournaments with a fitness trainer and now we are kind of just doing the warmups, doing the gym work together. He has a really good system around everything.”

While pleased with the fitness work, Korda was frustrated that he was forced to miss three months after enjoying a strong start to the season. The American reached the final in Adelaide, holding championship point against Novak Djokovic, before he earned his best result at a major at the Australian Open, advancing to the quarter-finals.

“It was very tough, especially after playing some really good tennis in Australia, having a lot of momentum and then just getting the stop sign to not be able to do anything. It was definitely very difficult,” Korda said. “I really wanted to play. The timing of everything was a really bad situation.

“I was just playing a bunch of video games during my free time, during the nights with my boys at home. Other than that, I was in the gym early in the morning and I got home late at night. I couldn't play golf, I couldn't play ice hockey. I was mainly in the gym and on court doing some movement.”

Korda is making his debut at The Queen’s Club this week in his fourth event since returning to Tour. The World No. 32 defeated Daniel Evans, Frances Tiafoe and Cameron Norrie in straight sets in his first three matches and is excited to be back on grass.

His best result on the surface came at Wimbledon in 2021, when he advanced to the fourth round. The one-time tour-level champion believes the surface suits his game.

“I'm not really as well prepared as I have been in the past. I haven't spent too much time on the practice court, but I'm slowly getting there,” Korda said. “I love playing on the grass and I think it suits me.

“I love coming to the net. I think it's a whole different ballgame to play on the grass. You have to go to the net, serve differently and return differently. You have to use other tools in the game that you don't really have to use on the clay or on the hard courts. I think it's exciting when you get two grass-court players who really know how to play on grass, it is just really fun to watch.”

Korda continues his grass season in west London against World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz.