Carlos Alcaraz did not hide his frustration after his 2026 Miami Open run came to a halt in the third round, where Sebastian Korda defeated him in three sets. The Spaniard pointed to a familiar challenge at the top of men’s tennis: opponents elevating their level against him. While Alcaraz acknowledged the reality of that pressure, he admitted it can be “a bit annoying,” even as he stressed the importance of staying composed and finding solutions in those moments.
Carlos Alcaraz Addresses the Pressure of Facing Peak-Level Opponents
The loss came during Alcaraz’s sixth appearance in Miami, a tournament where he lifted the title in 2022 and returned this year as the top seed. After a first-round bye, he opened with a solid straight-sets win over Brazilian rising star João Fonseca, 6-4, 6-4, setting up a clash with 32nd seed Korda.
The match proved far more complicated. Alcaraz dropped the first set 3-6, battled back to take the second 7-5, but ultimately fell short in the decider, losing 4-6 in a tightly contested encounter filled with narrow margins.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, Alcaraz was candid when asked about facing opponents who appear to be playing at a higher level than usual. “Well, it’s not really good, to be honest,” he said with a laugh. “It’s a bit annoying.”
The 22-year-old pivoted, emphasizing acceptance as a key to competing at the highest level. “But you have to accept it. You have to keep it going and try your best,” he added.
Alcaraz pointed out that his versatile game typically gives him multiple ways to disrupt opponents, but against Korda, he struggled to find that edge. “I think, like, luckily I have a lot of weapons. I have a lot of things that I can do on the court trying to get him uncomfortable, which today I couldn’t find that way.”
MORE: Sebastian Korda Admits He Planned To ‘Play Average’ To Topple Carlos Alcaraz in Miami
He also highlighted how close the match truly was, noting the frequency of tight moments. “Even though he was playing, I would say, above his normal level, I was there a lot of 30-all, a lot of 40-all, break points. To me, I didn’t make it,” Alcaraz said.
Rather than dwell on the missed chances, he framed it as a lesson for the future. “I just got to see that point of view and just, for the next matches, to think like they’re going to play like that. Even though I’m going to have my chances, I will try to play better on those moments, on those points, and I will try not to let them stay in the match, or I will try to push them to the limit even more.”
What Lies Ahead for Carlos Alcaraz After His Miami Open Exit?
Looking ahead, Alcaraz will now gear up for his title defense at the Monte-Carlo Masters. The Spaniard made his Monte-Carlo Masters debut in 2022, losing in three sets to Korda in the second round.
He returned for his next appearance in 2025 and put together an impressive run, defeating Francisco Cerundolo, Daniel Altmaier, Arthur Fils, and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina to reach the final. In the championship match, he bounced back after dropping the opening set to beat Lorenzo Musetti 3-6, 6-1, 6-0.
