“‘I Should Have Spoken Sooner’: Why Nelly Korda Finally Decided to Share Her Family’s Most Difficult Chapter.”
For years, Regina Rajchrtová—the Korda family matriarch and a former Olympic tennis star—has been a constant, stoic presence at her daughters’ tournaments. However, Nelly’s recent confession reveals that while she was climbing to the top of the leaderboards, her mother was facing a daunting health battle away from the cameras.
The Burden of Silence
“I can’t believe I stayed silent all these years,” Nelly shared in an emotional interview. The decision to keep the news private wasn’t about secrecy, but about protection. The Kordas have always been a “family-first” unit, and Regina reportedly insisted that her health not become a distraction for her children’s burgeoning careers.
Managing the “Korda Dynasty” while undergoing treatment is a testament to Regina’s resilience, but for Nelly, the weight of carrying that secret became its own kind of exhaustion.
A New Perspective on the Game
This revelation puts Nelly’s recent “slower” start to the 2026 season into perspective. While critics questioned her form, she was balancing the demands of the LPGA with hospital visits and family care.
“Golf is what I do, but my family is who I am,” Nelly explained. “There were days when the fairway felt like the loneliest place in the world because I just wanted to be home.”
Why Speak Out Now?
Nelly’s decision to go public wasn’t just for her own healing; it was to advocate for other families navigating similar crises. By sharing her story, she hopes to break the stigma that athletes must be “unbreakable.” Her message is clear: even at the top of the world, it is okay to struggle, and it is okay to ask for support.
The outpouring of love from the golf community has been immediate. Fans are “melting” over the vulnerability shown by their champion, proving that Nelly’s strength isn’t just in her swing—it’s in her honesty.
