Sebastian Korda’s participation in the 2024 Monte-Carlo Masters did not go as expected. Just days before the tournament began, the American tennis player was robbed of his €300,000 watch. The theft occurred on April 4 near the Monte-Carlo Masters courts in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, where Korda was set to compete.
According to France Bleu Azur, Korda was accosted by two individuals wearing helmets as he waited near the staircase that connects Avenue de France and Avenue Varavilla. The robbers fled on their scooter, with police actively searching for them. Korda was unharmed but shocked by the incident.
Swiss luxury watch company Richard Mille sponsors Sebastian Korda, along with 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal. Korda teamed up with the luxury watchmaker in 2022, following in the footsteps of his sisters, golfers Jessica and Nelly Korda, who have also signed deals with the brand.
While Nadal often wears a limited edition RM 27-02 Tourbillon valued at over $1 million during matches, Korda sports a Richard Mille RM67-02 Automatic Winding Extra Flat sports watch, worth just over €300,000.
Unfortunately, Korda’s performance at the Monte-Carlo Masters was lackluster after the watch robbery. The World No. 27, who had previously reached the Round of 16 in 2022, was defeated early in both singles and doubles this time. In doubles, Korda and his partner, World No. 9 Grigor Dimitrov, lost their opening match against Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic, 6-4, 6-4. In singles, after earning a decisive 6-1, 6-2 victory over 2022 finalist Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the first round, Korda was eliminated from the tournament in the next match by World No. 2 Jannik Sinner with the same scoreline.
Korda, who typically wears a black-strapped Richard Mille watch, was seen wearing an orange-strapped version during the event. After his exit from the Monte-Carlo Masters, he is set to compete at the ATP 250 Tiriac Open in Bucharest, Romania. The 23-year-old will be vying for his second career title at this event, and his first in three years.
