Alcaraz exits Miami Open after defeat by Korda

 World number one Carlos Alcaraz was knocked out of the Miami Open in the third round after a surprise 6-3 5-7 6-4 defeat by Sebastian Korda.

Top seed Alcaraz, 22, produced a sloppy first set which gave the American the early initiative but Korda looked to have blown his chance in the second set.

Korda served for the match at 5-4 but was broken to love by the Spaniard who went on to win the next two games to force a third set.

Alcaraz upped the ante but Korda held his nerve and seized a break for 4-3 in the third when his opponent stroked a forehand wide.

Korda, ranked 36th in the world, confidently held his next two service games to close out the match - sealing the win on his second match point as Alcaraz overhit a a return.

Alcaraz said his game is improving despite being knocked out as he prepares to rest up before the clay-court seaon.

"I think the process has been good. Besides the loss today, I think I'm still in the right way," he said.

"Some things in previous tournaments that I just didn't feel comfortable, I think in this tournament, I started to feel better and better."

Alcaraz said lower-ranked opponents such as Korda have the opportunity to play with more freedom against him, but he must guard against putting undue pressure on himself.

He added: "I'm feeling they have more to win than to lose in those matches. They're playing without pressure.

"I'm not thinking about my pressure. I don't feel it at all. I'm trying to play my best."

Korda, 25, is the lowest-ranked man to defeat Alcaraz since world number 55 David Goffin of Belgium upset the Spaniard in the second round in Miami last year

Alcaraz began the year by winning his seventh Grand Slam title with a triumph at the Australian Open and did not suffer his first loss of the season until he fell to Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals of Indian Wells.

Korda, who reached the quarter-finals of the Miami Open in 2021 and 2025 but has never gone further, will face 14th seed Karen Khachanov or qualifier Martin Landaluce in the fourth round.

"It feels great," said Korda, who wrapped up the win in two hours and 19 minutes as he beat a top-ranked player for the first time in his career.

"I took the scenic route, that's for sure - a little more stress than I would want but happy with how I played.

"I kept believing. I got myself in some nasty situations, but I kept going and played really well in the end."

Rybakina cruises into last 16

Meanwhile, third seed Elena Rybakina cruised into the last 16 of the women's singles with 6-3 6-4 victory over Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk.

The Russia-born Kazakhstani will play Australian qualifier Talia Gibson, who knocked off another seeded player with a 6-2 6-2 win over 18th seed Iva Jovic.

Gibson, coming off an impressive run to the Indian Wells quarter-finals, had beaten former world number one Naomi Osaka in the second round.

Courtesy BBC Online