Carlos Alcaraz is once again out earlier than he wanted to be at the Miami Open. He has won the event previously, sure, but after bouncing out in the second round in 2025, he likely didn't want to go out in the third round in 2026, but that is exactly what he did.
Sebastian Korda stunned him in the third round on Sunday. Korda jumped out to a 6-3 win in the first set, and then Alcaraz came back to win a tight second set 7-5. At that point, tennis fans might have assumed he would win the third set because that is exactly what the ATP No. 1 does.
A player doesn't normally beat him over the course of a match if the Spaniard comes back to win the next set after losing the first, no matter if the match is one taking place in a Grand Slam or any other event that happens to only go to three sets, at most.
Sebastian Korda stuns Carlos Alcaraz at the 2026 Miami Open
Not on Sunday, however. Korda shocked everyone by taking the final set 6-4. Carlos Alcaraz was left to ask what happened, but in the general picture, he is just fine. That's because he lost in a round earlier at the Miami Open last year. While dropping out earlier than expected, he still picked up points.
40 points, to be exact. No matter what happens the rest of the tournament, he will maintain his lead on the ATP tour. The issue is that Jannik Sinner could be gaining on him faster than he wanted. Sinner didn't play at the 2025 edition because he was suspended for three months due to two failed drug tests at the previous year's Indian Wells, and he could get 1,000 points by winning Miami in 2026.
Carlos Alcaraz still managed to gain points at the Miami Open even while being shocked in the third round. The next month will determine how strong his hold on the top ranking is.
As for Sebastian Korda, even beating Alcaraz hasn't helped him. He reached the quarterfinals in 2025, so he has dropped points so far. That is the great thing about tennis. A player's success runs from year to year and not match to match. The only way Korda picks up points is if he reaches the semifinals. To get there, he might have to defeat Taylor Fritz in the quarters.