Sebastian Korda Stuns World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz at 2026 Miami Open
Major Upset at the Miami Open
The 2026 Miami Open witnessed a shocking turn of events as top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz was eliminated in the Round of 32 on March 22. American player Sebastian Korda delivered a remarkable performance at the renowned Hard Rock Stadium, marking one of the year's most unexpected outcomes. The match, which lasted two hours and 19 minutes, saw Korda triumph in a thrilling three-set battle. He secured the first set with a score of 6-3, but Alcaraz fought back to take the second set 7-5. Korda, who was serving for the match at 5-4 in the second set, faced a setback when he was broken by Alcaraz, leading to a loss of three consecutive games. Nevertheless, Korda regained his composure and clinched the final set 6-4, advancing to the Round of 16 where he will compete against unseeded Martín Lacambra from Spain.
Introducing Sebastian Korda
Who Is Sebastian Korda?
Born on July 5, 2000, in Florida, Sebastian Korda comes from a family of tennis players. His father, Petr Korda, was a former world No. 2 and won the 1998 Australian Open men's singles title. Petr also claimed the men's doubles title in Melbourne with Stefan Edberg in 1996 and reached the finals of both Men's Singles (1992) and Men's Doubles (1990) at Roland Garros. Notably, he defeated world No. 1 Pete Sampras during the 1997 US Open, a significant achievement given Sampras's status as a 14-time Grand Slam champion. Sebastian's mother, Regina Rajchrtová, achieved a career-high ranking of 26 in women's singles and 45 in women's doubles. He has two sisters, Jessica and Nelly, who are both professional golfers, making him the youngest of the trio.
Sebastian Korda's Career Highlights
Sebastian Korda's Career
Currently ranked 36th in the world, Korda reached a career-high ranking of 15 in ATP Men's Singles in 2024. In doubles, he is presently ranked 235, having previously held a ranking of 45 in March 2025 before facing an injury that sidelined him. Korda made his Grand Slam main draw debut at the 2020 French Open, advancing to the fourth round. His best performance in a major came during the 2023 Australian Open, where he reached the quarter-finals. In Masters 1000 events, he reached the semi-finals at the Canadian Open in 2024 and the Shanghai Masters in 2023. Throughout his career, Korda has secured three singles titles, including two ATP 250 events (Emilia-Romagna Open 2021, Delray Beach Open 2026) and the ATP 500 Washington Open in 2024. He also boasts one doubles title from the ATP 1000 Madrid Open, which he won alongside Jordan Thompson. This victory over Alcaraz marks Korda's second win against the Spaniard, having previously defeated him in the Round of 32 at the 2022 Monte-Carlo Masters. Additionally, Korda has a notable win against Jannik Sinner during the quarter-finals of the 2023 Adelaide Open.