The 2026 season began like a dream for Carlos Alcaraz, who stormed through the early months with a flawless 16-0 record. But tennis has a way of humbling even the very best. After a semifinal loss at Indian Wells, the World No. 1 faced another setback - this time at the Miami Open, where Sebastian Korda delivered a stunning third-round upset.

Korda pulled off a gritty 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 victory, outlasting Alcaraz in a match that tested both skill and nerve. The Spaniard looked out of sorts early, producing a sloppy opening set that handed the initiative to the American. Although Alcaraz fought back from the brink - breaking Korda while he served for the match in the second set - the 25-year-old kept his composure when it mattered most.

After the win, Sebastian Korda couldn’t hide his relief and excitement. “It feels great. I took the scenic route, that’s for sure. A little more stress than I would want, but happy with how I played and stayed with it. Kept believing. I got myself in some nasty situations. Just kept going and kept believing. I played really well at the end.”

The American also shed light on the tactical discipline that helped him overcome one of the most complete players on tour. "A lot of soul searching, that’s for sure. I’ve gone through a lot of things, played a lot of great players. Haven’t been able to get it done, but I felt always when I was playing these top players that I’d start spraying the ball and try to do a bit too much than I needed to do. With Ryan we sat down; our goal today was to play average. Just have an average ball. Don’t do too much with it. That’s when you get in trouble. That’s kind of what he’s searching for is you start spraying and you get yourself in trouble against him.”

When asked about raising his level even further, Sebastian Korda emphasized the importance of controlled aggression. “He’s unbelievable in every aspect of his game. Movement, volleys, forehand, backhand... there’s nothing he can’t do. I had to be aggressive. I had to take the ball out of his hand and take the point in my favor.”

Ranked No. 36, Korda is now the lowest-ranked player to defeat Alcaraz since David Goffin stunned him at the same tournament last year. The American, who previously reached the Miami quarter-finals in 2021 and 2025, has once again put himself in a strong position, this time eyeing an even deeper run.

He is set to face either Karen Khachanov or rising talent Martin Landaluce in the fourth round. Sebastian Korda’s performance didn’t go unnoticed among his peers either. Fellow American Taylor Fritz had already sensed danger for Alcaraz heading into the clash.

What did Taylor Fritz say about Sebastian Korda’s heroics against Carlos Alcaraz?

Sebastian Korda has already won a title this year at the Delray Beach Open. But before that, he had faced Taylor Fritz in the QF of the Dallas Open. Although Fritz won that match, Korda showcased an incredible fight, forcing the match into three sets. Highlighting all of that, and while sharing his thoughts on Korda’s incredible performance in Miami, Fritz said:

“Yeah, I mean, I saw a lot of him in Dallas. Obviously, we had a very, very close match. I thought I played very well in that match and was still two points away from losing it. So I know Seb’s been playing really well. I feel like he’s been serving; he’s always returned well, struck the ball, and grabbed the baseline.”  

He further pointed to Korda’s improved serving as a key factor behind the upset. “I think he’s been serving pretty better than than normal. He’s been serving really well and playing with confidence. And obviously, I can say this now, and it’s not, you know, you don’t need to believe me or not, but I did say I felt like this was going to be a really close match,” he added.

Now, coming to Carlos Alcaraz’s post-match reactions, the Spaniard said that he feels he played a good match, irrespective of the result. But at the same time, he also admitted that Sebastian Korda played great on all the big points.

Further on, he added, “Luckily, I have a lot of weapons, a lot of things that I can do on the court to try [and make] him uncomfortable, which today I couldn't find,” Alcaraz said when asked about opponents raising their level against him. “But I know from now on, I know they are going to play like that. I’ve just got to be ready.”

Carlos Alcaraz now leaves Miami with a 17-2 record in 2026. All he now wants is to get back home, spend some time with his family, and come back strongly at the clay-court swing. But what are your thoughts on Sebastian Korda’s incredible performance against the world number one?

Written by

Sayantan Roy

Sayantan Roy is a seasoned tennis journalist at EssentiallyTennis. He brings a deep tactical understanding to his coverage, breaking down head-to-head records, match dynamics, and on-court strategies with precision. For more than two years, Sayantan has been a key member of the Live Events desk, delivering real-time insights and data-backed predictions for the platform’s Matchday Preview section. His analytical approach has sparked editorial debates and drawn recognition from respected tennis voices, including commentator and analyst Olly_Tennis. Combining his experience in writing with a passion for insightful sports journalism, Sayantan’s work serves as a trusted reference point for tennis fans around the world.

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