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Sebastian Korda's girlfriend caught in awkward moment at Australian Open

The American tennis player and girlfriend Ivana Nedved both hail from famous sporting families.

Sebastian Korda and girlfriend Ivana Nedved, pictured here at the Australian Open.
Sebastian Korda and girlfriend Ivana Nedved were caught in an awkward moment at the Australian Open. Image: Channel 9/Getty

Sebastian Korda and his girlfriend were caught in rather awkward scenes after his win at the Australian Open on Sunday when the young American was asked to introduce her to the crowd. Korda advanced to his first grand slam quarter-final after a 3-6 6-3 6-2 1-6 7-6 (10-7) triumph over 10th seed Hubert Hurkacz.

Korda's girlfriend Ivana Nedved looked a bundle of nerves throughout the five-set battle, with TV cameras picking up her reaction to a number of crucial points. In his on-court interview after the win, Korda was then asked to introduce her to everyone.

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The 22-year-old thanked his coaching staff for their support, including former top-10 player Radek Stepanek - who was coached by Korda's father Petr throughout his career. Korda then thanked his girlfriend, before interviewer Jim Courier said: “The crowd wants to know her name."

Korda replied "her name is Ivana", leaving both of them looking rather embarrassed. The Tennis Podcast Twitter account had earlier pointed out the awkward detail that Nedved was wearing a strikingly similar colour to her boyfriend's opponent.

Korda and Nedved both come from famous sporting families. Petr Korda won the Australian Open in 1998 while representing the Czech Republic and is a former World No.2.

Mother Regina Rajchrtova played tennis at the Olympics, while both of Korda's sisters (Jessica and Nelly) have won the Australian Open in golf. "It's a special place for us. We've had some really great results," Korda said earlier in the Australian Open. "Hopefully I can do one better than the juniors and do it in the pros.

"I don't know what I'm going to be ranked now but my mum's career (high) ranking was 26, my dad's was two, my sister Nelly was No.1, my older sister Jessica was sixth. So I'm definitely the worst athlete in the family so far!"

As for Nedved, she is the daughter of Czech football great Pavel Nedved. The 50-year-old represented the Czech Republic at the World Cup and is the current manager of Juventus.

Ivana Nedved, pictured here watching Sebastian Korda at the ATP Finals in 2021.
Ivana Nedved watches Sebastian Korda at the ATP Finals in 2021. (Photo by TIZIANA FABI/AFP via Getty Images)

Sebastian Korda retires hurt in quarter-final

Korda faced off against Karen Khachanov on Tuesday for a place in the semi-finals. However the 22-year-old American was forced to retire hurt in heartbreaking scenes.

Khachanov had won the first set in a tiebreak before Korda took a medical time-out while leading 3-2 in the second. The American had his right wrist strapped but dropped the next four games, losing his serve at 3-3 from 40-0 up.

With his error count piling up, Korda then retired midway through the third set with Khachanov securing a 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 3-0 victory and place in the semi-finals. The 18th seed from Russia also reached the semis at the US Open last year after beating Nick Kyrgios in the quarters.

Sebastian Korda, pictured here receiving treatment during his quarter-final at the Australian Open.
Sebastian Korda receives treatment during his quarter-final at the Australian Open. (Photo by Stringer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

"Back to back semi-finals in a grand slam feels great," Khachanov said. "It's obviously not the way you want to finish a match and I think until a certain point it was very competitive and a good battle.

"I'm feeling good and really happy about my level and the way I compete and looking forward to semi-finals here in Australia for the first time."

with agencies

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