Sebastian Korda fended off a stunning fightback from Carlos Alcaraz to reach the last 16 of the Miami Open with a thrilling three-set victory over the world number one. 

Korda eventually fought his way to a 6-3 5-7 6-4 victory after failing to serve out the match in the second set, earning an unlikely victory against the 2022 champion. 

The American missed an early break opportunity in the first set but put Alcaraz through his paces before eventually getting the better of the top seed's serve in the eighth game.

Alcaraz was unable to stop his opponent from taking the early lead, and he appeared set for an even earlier exit after Korda reeled off three of the first four games in the second set. 

But at 5-3 up, Korda was unable to get himself over the line as Alcaraz roared back to take the match the distance after putting together a five-game winning stretch. 

However, Korda dusted himself down and got the job done in the decider, following up a break of serve in the seventh game with a blistering serve that Alcaraz returned long, sealing his progression to the next round. 

"I took the scenic route, that's for sure," Korda said. "There was a little more stress than I would want, but I'm happy with how I played, happy with how I stayed with it.

"I kept believing. I got myself in some nasty situations, but I kept going and played really well in the end."

The biggest win of his career @SebiKorda stuns World No. 1 Alcaraz in dramatic fashion and is through to the fourth round on home soil!@MiamiOpen | #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/i3f3BUSzN3

— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 22, 2026

Earlier on Sunday, Korda's compatriot Taylor Fritz had things easier, coming out on top in an all-American clash with Reilly Opelka in straight sets.

Sixth seed Fritz teed up a date with Czechia's Jiri Lehecka for a place in the quarter-finals after 6-3 6-4 victory, which saw him overcome 10 aces from the big-serving Opelka. 

Data Debrief: Korda keeps the American dream alive

John Isner in 2018 was the last American to win the Miami Open title, but Korda edged closer to becoming the newest name from his country to lift the title with one of the performances of his career against Alcaraz. 

Korda is just the fifth American player to defeat the world number one at the Miami Open, and the first born in Florida to do so since the tournament's inception in 1985.

In addition, since the format's introduction in 1990, Korda is just the third 32nd seed to defeat the top seed at an ATP Masters 1000 event, with all three now achieving the feat in Miami, after Wayne Ferreira (1998) and Rafael Nadal (2004).