Alcaraz suffers shocking defeat in Miami Open surprise loss

Carlos Alcaraz, the world's top-ranked tennis player, was ousted from the Miami Open in the third round by Sebastian Korda, who pulled off a stunning 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 victory over the Spanish sensation.

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Korda, an American ranked 36th globally, capitalized on Alcaraz's shaky start to claim the first set, and after a setback in the second, he regained his composure to seal the win in the decisive third set.

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The turning point came when Korda broke Alcaraz's serve to take a 4-3 lead in the final set, after the Spaniard sent a forehand wide, and he then closed out the match on his second match point.

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Alcaraz, 22, had briefly regained his footing after breaking Korda's serve to love when the American was serving for the match in the second set, forcing a decider, but ultimately, he was unable to sustain the momentum.

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Despite the loss, Alcaraz expressed optimism about his form, stating, "I think the process has been good, besides the loss today, I think I'm still in the right way," and noted that he had started to feel more comfortable in the tournament.

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Alcaraz also acknowledged the challenge posed by lower-ranked opponents, saying, "I'm feeling they have more to win than to lose in those matches, they're playing without pressure," and emphasized that he does not feel pressured himself.

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For Korda, the win marked his first-ever victory over a world number one and his second win over Alcaraz in six meetings, with Korda commenting, "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."

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Korda credited his perseverance, saying, "I kept believing, I got myself in some nasty situations, but I kept going and played really well in the end," as he advanced to the fourth round.

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Korda will now face either Karen Khachanov or Martin Landaluce in the next round, seeking to surpass his previous best performances at the tournament.