MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — In a stunning upset at the Miami Open presented by Itau, world number one Carlos Alcaraz was eliminated in the third round on Sunday, falling to American Sebastian Korda 6-3, 5-7, 6-4. The defeat marks a surprising early exit for the 22-year-old Spaniard, who recently claimed his seventh Grand Slam title at the Australian Open.
Korda, ranked 36th in the world, delivered a resilient performance, overcoming a mid-match wobble to secure the victory in two hours and 19 minutes. The win represents the biggest of Korda’s career, and the lowest-ranked man to defeat Alcaraz since David Goffin, ranked 55th, accomplished the feat in Miami last year, according to the ATP Tour.
The match began with Alcaraz appearing sluggish, dropping the first set 6-3. While he rallied to seize the second set, winning five consecutive games after Korda served for the match at 5-4, the momentum ultimately shifted back to the American in the decisive third set. Korda broke Alcaraz’s serve for a 4-3 lead and then confidently closed out the match, sealing the win on his second match point after an errant return from the top seed.
“It feels great,” Korda said after the match. “I took the scenic route, that’s for sure – a little more stress than I would want but happy with how I played. I kept believing. I got myself in some nasty situations, but I kept going and played really well in the end.”
Alcaraz Acknowledges Korda’s Performance and Focuses on Clay Season
Despite the loss, Alcaraz remained philosophical, acknowledging Korda’s strong performance. “I think Sebi was incredible today. Played such a great game,” Alcaraz stated. He also emphasized his belief that he is still on the right track despite the setback, and is looking forward to the upcoming clay-court season. “I think the process has been solid. Besides the loss today, I think I’m still in the right way,” he said. Alcaraz added that he believes lower-ranked opponents often play with more freedom against him, a dynamic he needs to address.
This defeat comes after Alcaraz also lost to Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals at Indian Wells last week, marking a slight dip in form after a dominant start to the 2026 season. Prior to these losses, Alcaraz had a perfect 16-0 record to begin the year.
Korda Advances to Fourth Round
Korda’s victory propels him into the fourth round of the Miami Open, where he will face either 14th-seeded Karen Khachanov or qualifier Martin Landaluce. Korda has previously reached the quarter-finals in Miami in both 2021 and 2025, but has yet to advance beyond that stage.
Other notable results from Sunday included victories for Americans Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul, who also advanced to the fourth round. Sixth-seeded Fritz defeated Reilly Opelka 6-3, 6-4, while No. 22 seed Paul eliminated Raphael Collignon 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (5). On the women’s side, Elena Rybakina and Jessica Pegula secured their places in the next round with straight-set wins.
What’s Next for Alcaraz?
Alcaraz will now turn his attention to the clay-court season, a surface where he has historically excelled. He is expected to return home to rest and prepare for upcoming tournaments. The Spaniard will be looking to regain his momentum and continue his pursuit of further Grand Slam titles. The Miami Open continues with fourth-round matches on Tuesday.
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