Alcaraz Falls in Miami, Eyes Clay Season

On March 22, 2026, in the third round of the ATP Miami Open, top seed Alcaraz lost to Korda. The match ended with scores of 6-3, 5-7, 6-4. This marks Alcaraz's second consecutive year of exiting before the second week of the tournament. Following a 16-match winning streak at the start of this season, this is his second loss in the last three matches.

After the match, Alcaraz quickly shifted his focus to the clay season. He stated that he would return home to relax with family and friends for a few days, adjusting his mindset and recovering physically to prepare optimally for the upcoming clay court campaign. Despite a strong start to the season, the world number one acknowledged that he has noticed opponents continually improving their competitive level, and he needs to perform better on crucial points.

Korda delivered a nearly flawless performance in this match, experiencing only a brief fluctuation during the 5-4 service game in the second set. Alcaraz seized the opportunity to fight back, winning the second set 7-5, but ultimately failed to complete the comeback. Alcaraz admitted that his opponent's performance that day exceeded the norm, and he was unable to fully control the rhythm of the match.

This loss also intensifies the competition for the top spot in the ATP rankings. Rival Sinner has narrowed the points gap, while Alcaraz needs to defend a significant number of points during the clay season. Sinner faces relatively less pressure in maintaining his points. The upcoming Monte Carlo Masters will be a critical juncture in the battle for the world number one position.

Alcaraz's season record updates to 17 wins and 2 losses. His next tournament will be the Monte Carlo Masters, where he is also the defending champion.

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