Nelly Korda doesn’t expect much at US Women’s Open after blood clot

December 18, 2021; Orlando, Florida, USA; Nelly Korda plays her shot from the first tee during the first round of the PNC Championship golf tournament at the Grande Lakes Orlando course. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper – USA TODAY Sports

SOUTHERN PINES, North Carolina, May 31 (Reuters) – Defending Olympic champion Nelly Korda returns to competition at the $10 million US Women’s Open this week in Pine Needles, nearly three months after receiving a diagnosed with a blood clot in his left arm.

World number two Korda said she hadn’t rushed her comeback after surgery which repaired the clot and she couldn’t think of a better time to return than the biggest event in women’s football.

“It’s okay. I’m so happy to be here. I’ve missed everyone and I’m just grateful,” Korda said emotionally on a warm late spring morning.

“I just made sure that I was ready and 100% ready for my comeback (and) that I wasn’t going to have any problems.”

Korda, wearing a compression sleeve on her left arm, declined to reveal the cause of the clot, saying she would rather keep it to herself.

The 23-year-old is joined on court by his sister Jessica, a six-time LPGA Tour winner, while his brother Sebastian advanced to the third round of the French Open tennis championship last week.

Nelly Korda doesn’t have a particularly good record at the US Open — she’s missed the cut for the past two years — and her expectations this week are modest. She feels a sense of gratitude just for playing.

“When you’re taken away, you sit down and realize what an amazing sport it is and how you can travel the world and do what you love,” she said.

“I’m not expecting much (this week).

“To play and hit my first shot on Thursday is all I’m looking for right now.”

Reporting by Andrew Both Editing by Toby Davis

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