Carlos Alcaraz’s Miami Open run ended Sunday in one of the tournament’s biggest surprises so far, as American Sebastian Korda knocked out the world No. 1 in three sets, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, to reach the fourth round. The win was Korda’s first over a reigning world No. 1 and easily one of the biggest victories of his career.
Korda took control early with aggressive serving and sharp first-strike tennis, then held his nerve after missing a chance to close the match in the second set. After Alcaraz forced a decider, Korda regrouped, earned the key break for a 4-3 lead in the third, and finished the upset with an ace.
For Alcaraz, the defeat was a jolt after arriving in Miami as the top seed and one of the clear favorites. He had opened his tournament with a straight-sets win over João Fonseca, but on Sunday he could not consistently impose himself against Korda’s pace and willingness to come forward.
Korda’s reward is another major opportunity. He will next face Spain’s Martin Landaluce, who also turned heads Sunday by beating Karen Khachanov 6-3, 7-6(2) to reach the fourth round of a Masters 1000 event for the first time.
The men’s draw had already been loosened by earlier surprises, and Alcaraz’s exit opened it further. Sunday’s result instantly became the headline of the day in Miami because it removed the top seed and added another American name to the late-stage mix. That is especially notable at a tournament where local interest is always high and where Korda now carries clear momentum into the second week. This is an inference based on the result and draw movement.
On the women’s side, several contenders moved on. Aryna Sabalenka defeated Caty McNally 6-4, 6-2 to set up a round-of-16 meeting with Zheng Qinwen, who rallied past Madison Keys 4-6, 6-2, 6-4. Jessica Pegula also advanced comfortably, beating Leylah Fernandez 6-2, 6-2, while Elena Rybakina continued her steady run with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Marta Kostyuk. Jelena Ostapenko added another upset by eliminating Jasmine Paolini 5-7, 6-2, 7-5.
So March 22 at the Miami Open became the day Alcaraz fell. Korda produced the statement win, the men’s draw shifted dramatically, and the tournament moved into its next phase with both brackets suddenly looking more open than they did at the start of the day.
