Korda eliminates top-seeded Alcaraz in Miami third round
American Sebastian Korda defeated world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 in the third round of the Miami Masters 1000.
8:46 PM
Sebastian Korda defeated world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 in the third round of the Miami Masters 1000 on Sunday, eliminating the tournament's top seed and highest favorite for the title.
Korda, ranked 32nd, saved a match point before closing out the victory in the following game. The American, 25 years old and a native of Florida, advanced to the round of 16 with what he described as the most significant victory of his career.
Alcaraz arrived at Miami as the defending champion from 2022 and carried a 16-match winning streak into the tournament after winning the Australian Open and the ATP 500 event in Doha. He had reached the semifinals of Indian Wells before losing to Daniil Medvedev, a result that halted his unbeaten run.
The loss marked Alcaraz's second defeat of the season. His exit from Miami means he departs the Sunshine Double—the designation for the first two Masters 1000 events of the year—without a title, a situation that also occurred the previous year.
Alcaraz, from El Palmar in the Murcia region, struggled to find consistency during the match. Korda maintained his composure against an irregular performance from the Spanish player, who was unable to locate his usual pace and rhythm.
The result also came after Rafael Jódar, another Spanish player, lost to Tomás Martín Etcheverry 7-5, 6-4 in the opening match of the day. Etcheverry advanced to the round of 16, as did Argentine player Horacio Zeballos, who won his opening match at the Miami Masters 1000.