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World number one Carlos Alcaraz was knocked out of the Miami Open in the third round after a surprise 6-3 5-7 6-4 defeat by Sebastian Korda.<\/b><\/p>\n
Top seed Alcaraz, 22, produced a sloppy first set which gave the American the early initiative but Korda looked to have blown his chance in the second set.<\/p>\n
Korda served for the match at 5-4 but was broken to love by the Spaniard who went on to win the next two games to force a third set.<\/p>\n
Alcaraz upped the ante but Korda held his nerve and seized a break for 4-3 in the third when his opponent stroked a forehand wide.<\/p>\n
Korda, ranked 36th in the world, confidently held his next two service games to close out the match – sealing the win on his second match point as Alcaraz overhit a a return.<\/p>\n
Alcaraz said his game is improving despite being knocked out as he prepares to rest up before the clay-court seaon.<\/p>\n
“I think the process has been good. Besides the loss today, I think I’m still in the right way,” he said.<\/p>\n
“Some things in previous tournaments that I just didn’t feel comfortable, I think in this tournament, I started to feel better and better.”<\/p>\n
Alcaraz said lower-ranked opponents such as Korda have the opportunity to play with more freedom against him, but he must guard against putting undue pressure on himself.<\/p>\n
He added: “I’m feeling they have more to win than to lose in those matches. They’re playing without pressure.<\/p>\n
“I’m not thinking about my pressure. I don’t feel it at all. I’m trying to play my best.”<\/p>\n
Korda, 25, is the lowest-ranked man to defeat Alcaraz since world number 55 David Goffin of Belgium upset the Spaniard in the second round in Miami last year<\/p>\n
Alcaraz began the year by winning his seventh Grand Slam title with a triumph at the Australian Open and did not suffer his first loss of the season until he fell to Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals of Indian Wells.<\/p>\n
Korda, who reached the quarter-finals of the Miami Open in 2021 and 2025 but has never gone further, will face 14th seed Karen Khachanov or qualifier Martin Landaluce in the fourth round.<\/p>\n
“It feels great,” said Korda, who wrapped up the win in two hours and 19 minutes as he beat a top-ranked player for the first time in his career. <\/p>\n
“I took the scenic route, that’s for sure – a little more stress than I would want but happy with how I played.<\/p>\n
“I kept believing. I got myself in some nasty situations, but I kept going and played really well in the end.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n