By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, March 22, 2026
Photograph credit score: Wealthy Storry/Getty
Sebastian Korda grew up enjoying on South Florida arduous courts.
Korda continues to provide opponents the runaround within the Sunshine State.
World No. 36 Korda performed daring all-court tennis toppling world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 in a Miami Open stunner.
Korda is the lowest-ranked participant to defeat Alcaraz since No. 55 David Goffin despatched Alcaraz packing from the Miami second spherical final March.
“I believe it was a tricky match clearly,” Alcaraz mentioned. “I believe Sebi was unimaginable as we speak. Performed such
an amazing recreation. Quite a lot of tight, tight moments that I simply didn’t take advantage of it. I believe he was higher on that factors, on that moments. I might say that was the important thing of the match.”
Delray Seaside champion Korda is the primary American man to beat a world No. 1 in Miami since Andy Roddick upset Roger Federer within the 2008 Miami Open quarterfinals.
Australian Open champion Alcaraz was armed with a 17-1 document on the season as he walked out onto Laborious Rock Stadium Courtroom.
Credit score Korda for taking his cracks down the road and asserting his aggression in baseline rallies. Korda hit 33 winners, three greater than Alcaraz, and gained 16 of 26 journeys to internet.
American No. 1 Taylor Fritz mentioned Korda’s sharper serve has sparked his success this season.
“I do know Sebi has been enjoying rather well. I really feel like he’s been serving [well],” Korda mentioned. “He’s all the time returned nicely, struck the ball nice off the baseline. I believe he’s serving higher than
usually. Serving rather well, I believe. Enjoying with confidence.
“Clearly I can say this now, you don’t must imagine me or not, however I mentioned I felt like [Alcaraz vs. Korda] was going to be a extremely shut match.”
Enjoying from behind for a lot of the match, Alcaraz stole the second set, breaking at love when Korda served for the match at 5-4.
“I all the time say that the closing a match is admittedly troublesome. You consider numerous issues. Most likely you’re not as relaxed as you can really feel if you’re enjoying in the entire match,” Alcaraz mentioned. “It’s like every part involves you. It’s actually troublesome to cope with it.
“I might really feel the distinction. He simply made three errors in a row that he didn’t make it in the entire match. I simply made probably the most of it. I stayed there. I knew that. I used to be attempting to place as a lot balls in as I might. It really works, to be trustworthy.
“However on 5-4 within the third set, I believe he simply knew what he has to do. He simply performed with numerous first serve, which it’s robust when he performs with a giant first serve. It’s sort of he was in that second earlier than. He simply cope with that a lot, significantly better.”
Nonetheless Korda, who has been working with long-time good friend Ryan Harrison as coach, didn’t again down. Korda broke for a 4-3 third-set lead and held at 30 to verify the break.
Alcaraz’s loss comes per week after he suffered his first lack of the season, bowing to Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 7-6(3), within the Indian Wells semifinals.
