Korda shocks Alcaraz in Miami Open third round

Sebastian Korda caused a huge surprise at the Miami Open by defeating world number one Carlos Alcaraz 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 to end the Spaniard’s run in the third round.

The 36th-ranked American seized an early advantage as Alcaraz struggled at the start, claiming the first set. Despite dropping the second set, Korda stayed composed in the decider.

He broke Alcaraz for a 4-3 lead after the Spaniard hit a forehand wide and eventually wrapped up the match on his second match point, marking the biggest victory of his career.

Alcaraz, 22, had briefly fought back after breaking Korda to love when the American served for the match in the second set, eventually forcing a decider.

However, he was unable to maintain momentum as Korda steadied himself under pressure.

Reflecting on the defeat, Alcaraz remained optimistic about his form heading into the clay-court season.

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

He also acknowledged the challenge posed by lower-ranked opponents.

“I’m feeling they have more to win than to lose in those matches. They’re playing without pressure,” Alcaraz said, adding, “I’m not thinking about my pressure. I don’t feel it at all. I’m trying to play my best.”

For Korda, the victory marked his first-ever win against a world number one and his second triumph over Alcaraz in six meetings. “It feels great,” he 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.” He added, “I kept believing. I got myself in some nasty situations, but I kept going and played really well in the end.”

Join Very Nigerian WhatsApp Channel
For Verified Breaking News, Exclusive Reports, Trending Stories, And Real-time Updates.
CLICk HERE TO JOIN!