Sebastian Korda stunned world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 in the third round of the Miami Open on Sunday afternoon. Korda failed to serve out the match at 5-4 in the second set and was broken for the first time in a long time, but made a remarkable recovery to win after two hours and 19 minutes.
The eventual Delray Beach champion broke Alcaraz 3-3 in the third, and that was enough to win. After being broken at love while working for the match about 45 minutes earlier, Korda made no mistake with his second chance at 5-4 in the demoder.
“I took a graceful approach, that’s true,” admitted the world No. 36. “There was less stress than I would have liked, but I’m happy with the way I played, I’m happy with the way I stayed with it. I kept believing. I found myself in bad situations, but I kept going and played well in the end.”
“I think Sebi was amazing today,” praised Alcaraz. “(He) played a great game…. I know [opponents] they will play like that (I was against myself). I have to stay ready.
“Although he was playing, I would say, above his normal level, I was there – a lot of 30-alls, a lot of deuces (and) broke points for me. I didn’t succeed. But I have to see that perspective. In the next matches, I will try to play better. [in] those times, at those points.”
The 22-year-old Spaniard won the Miami title in 2022, but lost again at the event last year – in the second round to David Goffin. He fell to Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 6-4 in the 2024 quarterfinals.
