Miami Open: Carlos Alcaraz stunned by Sebastian Korda in early exit but Aryna Sabalenka breezes into last 16
Men's world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz in surprise loss to Sebastian Korda in last 32 as he suffers early exit again; women's top seed Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina ease into last 16; watch Miami Open live on Sky Sports and stream contract-free with NOW
Monday 23 March 2026 07:35, UK
Men's world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz was stunned by Sebastian Korda 6-3 5-7 6-4 in the third round of the Miami Open on Sunday, giving the American the biggest win of his career.
It appeared Korda had blown his chance to beat the Spaniard when he failed to serve out the match in the second set but he maintained his composure, breaking for 5-3 in the third set and claiming the victory with an unreturnable serve.
Florida-born Korda, ranked 36th in the world, mixed up his game nicely, effectively using a serve and volley to notch his first win over a top-ranked player while also benefiting from an uncharacteristically sloppy Alcaraz.
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In the women's singles, top seed and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka - looking to claim the 'Sunshine Double' after victory at Indian Wells last week - cruised to a 6-4 6-2 win over Catherine McNally.
There were also triumphs for reigning Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina - the player Sabalenka defeated in the recent final at Indian Wells - and Jessica Pegula.
Alcaraz: My opponents play without pressure
Alcaraz began the year by winning his seventh Grand Slam title with a triumph at the Australian Open and did not suffer his first defeat of the season until he fell to Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals of Indian Wells.
The Spaniard, who will now prepare for the clay-court season, remained positive after his latest loss, saying: "I think the process has been good.
"Besides the loss today, I think I'm still in the right way. Some things in previous tournaments that I just didn't feel comfortable, I think in this tournament, I started to feel better and better.
"I'm feeling [my opponents] have more to win than to lose in those matches. They're playing without pressure.
"It's a bit annoying. But you have to accept it. I'm not thinking about my pressure. I don't feel it at all. I'm trying to play my best."
Korda - who will now face Spanish qualifier Martín Landaluce after the latter dumped out 14th seed Karen Khachanov - said of his victory over Alcaraz: "It feels great.
"I took the scenic route, that's for sure. It was a little more stress than I would want but I'm happy with how I played, happy with how I stayed with it.
"I got myself into some nasty situations and I kept going, kept believing and I played really well at the end."
Wins for Fritz, Paul, Fils, Pegula, Rybakina and more in Miami
Elsewhere in the men's singles, Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul joined fellow American Korda in progressing, seeing off Jack Draper's conqueror Reilly Opelka and Raphael Collignon respectively.
France's Arthur Fils was another player to advance, hammering Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-0 6-1.
On the women's side, third seed Rybakina defeated Marta Kostyuk 6-3 6-4, while fifth seed Pegula posted a 6-2 6-2 win over Leylah Fernandez.
Seventh seed Jasmine Paolini, ninth seed Elina Svitolina, 11th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova and 18th seed Iva Jovic were all eliminated.
Watch the ATP and WTA Tours live on Sky Sports, with the Miami Open running until March 29. Stream contract-free with NOW.
