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Carlos Alcaraz has had a difficult few weeks and Sunday at the Miami Open was the lowest point of it.

The world number one, who lost to Daniil Medvedev in the Indian Wells semifinals just nine days ago, was beaten by Sebastian Korda 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 in the third round at the Hard Rock Stadium, his second early exit at this tournament in as many years.

What made it more alarming than the scoreline was what happened during the match, when Carlos Alcaraz was caught on camera in a moment of visible despair that was entirely at odds with the composed, relentless competitor the tennis world has come to expect.

What was caught on camera during Miami Open 2026 game

Shortly after Korda broke his serve towards the end of the first set, Carlos Alcaraz turned to his coaching team and began shouting.

The exchange was captured clearly enough for the words to be heard. "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," Carlos Alcaraz said, gesticulating with his arms wide.

His team tried to refocus him, shouting back to keep going. The response from Carlos Alcaraz was more troubling, "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."

For a player widely regarded as one of the mentally strongest competitors in the sport, it was a striking moment, and one that immediately dominated the conversation coming out of Miami.

What happened on the court against Sebastian Korda after that

To his credit Carlos Alcaraz did not surrender. He found something in the second set, broke Korda's rhythm and reeled off five consecutive games after the American had stepped up to serve for the match at 5-4, levelling the contest and briefly looking like the player who had dismantled Joao Fonseca in his opening round.

But the usual spark was missing even then, the celebrations, the trademark smile, the sense that he was enjoying the fight. Korda regrouped in the decider and held his nerve to seal the win in two hours and nineteen minutes.

Ranked 36 in the world, Korda became the lowest-ranked player to beat Carlos Alcaraz since David Goffin, then ranked 55, did the same at this very tournament a year ago, a statistic that only deepens the narrative around Carlos Alcaraz's struggles in Miami specifically.

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What Carlos Alcaraz said afterwards and what it means for the rankings

In his press conference Carlos Alcaraz was measured but candid. "I think Sebi was incredible today. There were a lot of tight moments that I didn't make the most of, and he was better in those situations," he said.

He also addressed something more revealing about how he experiences matches as world number one. "Obviously when you're winning tournaments and you have a great win-loss record, they have more to win than to lose in those matches. That's why in some moments they're playing without pressure. That's the feeling I get after every match."

Carlos Alcaraz called the dynamic "a bit annoying" but acknowledged it was something he simply has to accept and keep moving through.

The defeat leaves Carlos Alcaraz at 17-2 for the season, a record that most players would envy, but the losses have come at significant moments and Jannik Sinner, watching from his own side of the draw, now has a clear opportunity to close the gap at the top of the rankings.