The American, in a real rollercoaster, beat the Spaniard in three sets – 6:3, 5:7, 6:4 after two hours and 18 minutes of quality tennis.
Korda could have ended the match much earlier, leading 6:3 and 5:3, but he failed to serve for the match, his hand trembled, the Spaniard pulled himself back from the edge of the abyss and fought his way to the third set. However, the 25-year-old, who was born in Florida, Bradenton, remained calm and managed to do in the third set what he failed to do in the second.
Korda played one of the best matches of his career and shocked the Spaniard, who was also eliminated early (in the second round) in Florida last year. Italian Janik Siner now poses a serious threat to him – by winning Miami, he could close the gap on his biggest rival to just over 1,000 points (he currently lags 2,150).
The American excelled on serve, dictated the rhythm of the match and practically decided all the important points, deservingly achieving the first victory in his career over the world number one.
The Spaniard won several spectacular points, but that will be little consolation for the guy from Murcia.
The popular Seb won the opening part of the game thanks to a break in the eighth game.
In the second set, the American tennis player broke his rival's serve in the third game and held the advantage until 5:4. A winning serve followed, but Korda almost "fell apart" in it. He missed four first serves, made three unforced errors, and Alcaraz did not refuse gifts - he made a break with zero and with four games in a row he reached 7:5 and brought the match into the third set.
The 2022 champion seemed to be a huge favorite in the deciding set, but the American showed mental strength, waited for another opportunity and got it in the seventh game, when he made a crucial break. After that, he did not allow the scenario from the second part of the game to repeat itself, but used the second match point to win his career and advance to the round of 16 for the second year in a row (last year he was eliminated by Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals).
His next opponent will be the winner of the Martin Landalusa – Karen Khachanov clash.
Czech Jakub Menšik is defending his title in Florida.
