Carlos Alcaraz lost to Sebastian Korda in the third round of the Miami Open, with the match score being 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 in favor of Korda. Alcaraz had started the 2026 season with a 16-match winning streak, which included winning the Australian Open to complete the career Grand Slam. However, he has lost two of his last three matches after that winning streak, including a semi-final loss to Daniil Medvedev at Indian Wells in 2026 and a first-round loss at the 2025 Miami Open to David Goffin.
During the Miami Open, Alcaraz broke protocol by using informal language when addressing Queen Sofia of Spain. His coach Samuel Lopez said the outburst should not be normalized but is not surprising. Feliciano Lopez said he was surprised by the timing of Carlos Alcaraz's outburst because he is at the best moment of his career.
On the one hand, it can happen to any player. In the end, tennis is a routine, monotonous sport, where the same thing happens every week.
Rafael Nadal said there is no cause for concern about Carlos Alcaraz's recent defeats. Ryan Harrison said opponents play like Roger Federer against top players like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner because they have nothing to lose. In positive news for Spanish tennis, Martin Landaluce, a Rafa Nadal Academy alum, reached his first tour-level quarter-final at the Miami Open.
The specific personal or professional factors behind Alcaraz's outburst remain unclear, and it is unknown how his coaching team will address his mental fatigue or what impact this early exit will have on his upcoming clay season.
What surprised me is that it happened when it did, when he's experiencing the best moment of his career.
I mean, when he’s just come off winning the Australian Open, he’s won seven Grand Slams, he’s No. 1 in the world… So, what? Is he supposed to win all of the matches of the year? That’s never going to happen. So there’s your answer.
Are we really going to worry about two defeats? I don’t think so. That doesn’t make sense, and we shouldn’t demand more from him.
I just sometimes get tired [of] playing Roger Federer every round. Sometimes [it] just feels they’re playing an insane level.
Hey! How are you? How's it going? Thanks a lot! Thank you! I hope to hold the trophy.
It's just to make it look better, a 6-3, 6-4 or 6-3, 7-5, something like that. I can't do any more, I can't do any more.
I can't take it anymore, I want to go home now, man. I can't take it anymore, I can't take it anymore, I can't take it anymore.
I think it was a tough match. I think Sebi was incredible today. Played such a great game. A lot of tight, tight moments that I just didn't make the most of it.