In one of the biggest surprises of the 2025 Miami Open so far, Carlos Alcaraz was knocked out in the second round by veteran Belgian David Goffin, who came from a set down to win 5-7, 6-4, 6-3.
The result sent shockwaves through the tennis world, as Alcaraz, considered one of the favourites for the title, failed to maintain his early momentum and allowed Goffin to claw his way back into the match.
The 21-year-old Spaniard, who had shown glimpses of his brilliant shot-making and athleticism in the first set, struggled with consistency as the match wore on. Goffin, a former World No. 7 now ranked outside the top 50, used his experience and tactical precision to frustrate the younger player, capitalizing on key errors and serving with impressive accuracy.
This marks another disappointing result for Alcaraz in what has been an up-and-down start to his 2025 season. Despite a solid showing in Melbourne and flashes of brilliance earlier this month in Indian Wells, Alcaraz has yet to reclaim the dominant form that saw him lift Grand Slam titles and reach World No. 1 in 2022 and 2023.
“I’m not happy with how I played today,” Alcaraz admitted in his post-match press conference. “I had my chances, but I let the match slip away. I’ll take a few days to reset and then focus on the clay season.”
The loss also deals a blow to his momentum heading into the European clay court swing — a surface where he has previously thrived. All eyes will now turn to how he responds at Monte Carlo and Barcelona, key tournaments ahead of Roland Garros.
Meanwhile, for Goffin, the victory is a reminder of the grit and talent that once made him a regular fixture in the world’s top 10. He now advances to the third round with confidence and little to lose.
