Carlos Alcaraz suffered a shocking defeat by Belgium’s David Goffin in the opening-round match Friday night 5-7, 6-4, 6-3. The No. 2 seed was upset in the second round at the ATP Masters 1000 event at the 2025 Miami Open.
David Goffin dominated with a break in each of the three sets and secured victory on his second match point. Alcaraz was unable to match up to his opponent’s volley, which ripped into the corner. Goffin kept up the match’s pace to attack, leaving Alcaraz stranded at the net. His consecutive win follows victory over Aleksandar Vukic 2-6, 6-4, 6-2.
Alcaraz’s latest defeat is an add-on to his losing spree in the backdrop of the semi-final exit at Indian Wells.
David Goffin Lauds Carlos Alcaraz’s Serve
David Goffin, 34, is all praises for Carlos Alcaraz, saying he is a fantastic player. He believes the youngster has enhanced his serve given the recent technical improvements. Goffin highlighted Alcaraz’s dedication and strong support. He shared that he likes to compare himself to the world’s top players.
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About his win, Goffin said the key was to be aggressive. “Sometimes he (Alcaraz) hits the target on the first serve and you cannot do anything. The key was, even if I missed, I had to be aggressive because if I’m just too passive, then he has his forehand or he has everything.”
Goffin added that if you’re too passive, you’re dead.
Carlos Alcaraz is Struggling
Alex Corretja, former men’s tennis world No. 2, recently told the media that Carlos Alcaraz is struggling with a weight on his young shoulders and emotional wear and tear. He believes the Spaniard’s early success has put a lot of pressure on him without too much time to adjust to the demands of being a superstar and elite athlete.
Corretja said Alcaraz is still searching and trying to understand who he is, he is still figuring out what the circuit is and what life is on it. He added that the youngster has become a world star in the media and has a very difficult weight on his shoulders.
