ATP M 1000 MIAMI. By Emiliano Naftali
World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz fell short of the third round at the Miami Open, where he was defeated by Sebastian Korda (No. 36) in a thrilling battle, 6–3, 5–7, 6–4, after more than two hours of high-quality tennis.
The tennis world has been left in shock following Alcaraz’s early exit in Miami. The Spaniard, who had built an aura of near invincibility since rising to the top of the rankings, was unable to withstand a fearless and inspired performance from Korda.
Entering the tournament ranked No. 36, Korda managed to snap a remarkable streak that had seen Alcaraz dominate opponents outside the top tier. His victory not only showcased his talent, but also marked one of the most surprising results of the tournament so far.
To find the last time Alcaraz, as World No. 1, lost to a player ranked outside this range, one must go back to October 2022. On that occasion, a young “Carlitos” was defeated at the Astana tournament by Belgium’s David Goffin, then ranked No. 66 in the world.
Since then, Alcaraz had been a relentless force against players outside the top 35, making Korda’s triumph a genuine anomaly in the Spaniard’s otherwise dominant run.
Beyond this unexpected defeat, Alcaraz’s history at the Miami Open remains significant. The Spaniard captured the title in 2022, defeating Casper Ruud in the final to claim one of the most important trophies of his young career. That victory marked his breakthrough on the big stage and confirmed his status as one of the sport’s brightest stars. Even with this year’s early exit, Miami continues to be a special tournament in Alcaraz’s journey, a place where he first announced himself as a future world No. 1.