Korda Stuns Alcaraz at Miami Open, Reaching Fourth Round

Miami Gardens, FL – In a significant upset at the Miami Open presented by Itau, Sebastian Korda defeated top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 on Sunday, securing his place in the fourth round. The victory marks the biggest win of Korda’s career and hands Alcaraz his earliest loss of the season.

Korda Overcomes Alcaraz in Three Sets

The match saw a fluctuating dynamic, with Korda taking the first set 6-3. Alcaraz fought back in the second, breaking Korda’s serve at 5-4 and ultimately winning the set 7-5. The decisive third set went to Korda 6-4, sealed when Alcaraz sent a return over the baseline on Korda’s second match point.

The match lasted two hours and 19 minutes, with Korda demonstrating resilience after failing to close out the second set. “I took the scenic route, that’s for sure,” Korda said. “There was a little more stress than I would want, but I’m happy with how I played, happy with how I stayed with it. I kept believing.”

Alcaraz’s Struggles and Season Record

Alcaraz, who began the year with a Grand Slam triumph at the Australian Open, had previously been on a 16-0 run before suffering a semi-final defeat to Daniil Medvedev in Indian Wells. This loss to Korda represents his second defeat in the last three matches. Despite the setback, Alcaraz remains optimistic about his game as he prepares for the clay-court season.

“I think the process has been good,” Alcaraz stated. “Besides the loss today, I think I’m still in the right way. Some things in previous tournaments that I just didn’t feel comfortable, I think in this tournament, I started to feel better and better.”

Alcaraz acknowledged the freedom lower-ranked opponents have when facing him, stating, “I’m feeling they have more to win than to lose in those matches. They’re playing without pressure.”

Korda’s Path to the Fourth Round

Korda, currently ranked No. 36, is the lowest-ranked player to defeat Alcaraz since David Goffin (ranked No. 55) achieved the same feat in Miami last year. Korda has previously reached the quarter-finals of the Miami Open in both 2021 and 2025.

He will now face either 14th seed Karen Khachanov or qualifier Martin Landaluce in the fourth round. Korda expressed his satisfaction with the win, noting it was the first time he had defeated a top-ranked player in his career.

Recent Performance and Injury Recovery

Korda’s victory comes after a period of recovery from a right shin stress fracture that sidelined him for two-and-a-half months last year, causing his ranking to drop to No. 86. His return to form demonstrates his potential when fully fit.