Carlos Alcaraz faced a surprising defeat at the Miami Open, falling to David Goffin in a match that showcased the Belgian veteran’s resilience and skill. The encounter ended with Goffin securing a 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 victory, marking a significant upset against the world number three. Alcaraz, who had entered the tournament with high expectations, struggled to find his rhythm throughout the match.
Reflecting on his performance, Alcaraz admitted to not being at his best. He described his level of play as poor and acknowledged that he felt physically off during the match. Despite starting strong and taking the first set, Alcaraz’s confidence and energy seemed to wane as the match progressed. Goffin capitalized on this, maintaining his composure and delivering a series of impressive shots that kept the Spaniard on the back foot.
“It was a poor level from me,” Alcaraz commented. “I just wanted to play better. After the first set, I thought I was going to be better. He played well, he played good tennis. My level didn’t increase. I think his level after the first set increased a little bit. I didn’t play well, physically I didn’t feel well. When you don’t have the confidence of your level physically, I think it’s really tough to maintain good tennis.
I didn’t feel well in my legs. I wasn’t injured, I wasn’t sick. I was feeling perfectly before the match. I felt good, a little bit nervous, which is normal before the match. But nothing more than that. I just felt ready, I thought that I was going to play really good tennis. It didn’t happen.”
This loss comes as a setback for Alcaraz, who had hoped to make a deeper run in the tournament. However, he remains focused on improving and preparing for the challenges ahead. The European clay court season offers an opportunity for him to regain his form and continue building on his promising career.
Carlos Alcaraz in 2025
Now the world no.3, the Spaniard played his last match on the 21st of March when he surrendered to world no.55 David Goffin 5-7 6-4 6-3 in the 2nd round in Miami (draw).
This season Alcaraz has achieved a composed 15-4 match record. This year, Carlos won 1 title in Rotterdam.