Petr Korda (born 23 January 1968) is a Czech former professionaltennis player. He was ranked world No. 2 in men's singles by theAssociation of Tennis Professionals (ATP) in February 1998. Korda won ten singles titles, including the1998 Australian Open, and was the runner-up at the1992 French Open. Korda tested positive for doping in July 1998 atWimbledon, and was banned from September 1999 for 12 months, retiring from the sport shortly before the ban.[2] He is the father of professional golfersJessica Korda andNelly Korda, and of professional tennis playerSebastian Korda.
Korda first came to the tennis world's attention as a promising junior player. In 1985, he partnered with fellow CzechCyril Suk to win the boys' doubles title at the French Open. Korda and Suk ranked the joint-World No. 1 junior doubles players that year.
Korda turned professional in 1987. He won his first career doubles title in 1988, and his first top-level singles title in 1991. Korda was involved in fourGrand Slam finals during his career – two in singles and two in doubles. Korda also was known for the "Scissors Kick" which he would do at midcourt after winning matches.
A highlight of Korda's career include winning theGrand Slam Cup in 1993, with five-set wins in the semifinal and final overPete Sampras andMichael Stich, the number 1 and 2 tennis players in the world at that time. Korda also was a part of the Czech Republic's team which won theHopman Cup in 1994. In 1996 he teamed-up withStefan Edberg to win the men's doubles title at the Australian Open. He also upset the defending champion,Pete Sampras, in five sets in the fourth round of the1997 US Open.
The crowning moment of Korda's career came in 1998, when he defeatedAlbert Portas,Scott Draper,Vincent Spadea,Cédric Pioline,Jonas Björkman andKarol Kučera to faceMarcelo Ríos in the men's singles final at the Australian Open. Korda dominated the match from start to finish by winning in straight sets 6–2, 6–2, 6–2 and claimed his first Grand Slam singles title in just 1 hour and 25 minutes. The win propelled him to his career-high singles ranking of World No. 2. At four tournaments in 1998, Korda had theworld No. 1 ranking in his sights, but he lost toKarol Kučera in Antwerp,Marcelo Ríos at Indian Wells,Tim Henman in Miami andRichard Krajicek in Monte Carlo.
Following his quarterfinal match againstTim Henman at theWimbledon 1998, Korda tested positive for the banned steroidnandrolone.[3][4] This came to light in December 1998 when the appeals board of theInternational Tennis Federation (ITF) accepted his denial of intent and agreed not to ban him, instead merely withholding his Wimbledon prize money and ranking points.[3] The ensuing controversy caused the ITF to launch an appeal against its own decision at theCourt of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).[3] In January 1999 Korda obtained a ruling in theHigh Court of England and Wales that the ITF could not appeal,[5] but the High Court ruling was overturned by theCourt of Appeal. In July 1999 the CAS allowed the ITF appeal and on 1 September 1999 the ITF banned Korda for 12 months and stripped him of all prize money and ranking points since the failed test.[3]
Korda marriedRegina Rajchrtová, a former professional tennis player from Czechoslovakia. They have two daughters and a son. The oldest,Jessica, was born on 27 February 1993; she is a professional golfer, and finished 19th in the 2008U.S. Women's Open as a 15-year-old, with Korda as her caddy. He later caddied at the2013 U.S. Women's Open for his other daughter,Nelly, who is also a professional golfer.
Korda's son,Sebastian, is a professional tennis player.[6]
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Czechoslovakia (1987–1992)
Jim Courier
Marcelo Ríos
Goran Ivanišević
Sergio Casal
Stefan Edberg
Sébastien Lareau
Michael Stich
Andrei Chesnokov
Richard Krajicek
Andrés Gómez
Arnaud Boetsch
Gianluca Pozzi
Andrei Medvedev
Jaime Yzaga
Younes El Aynaoui
Yevgeny Kafelnikov
Goran Ivanišević
Thomas Muster
Pat Rafter
