Sebastian Korda is enjoying his best Miami Open campaign since 2021! The American faced the 9th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in the third round and scored a 7-6, 6-3 victory in an hour and 35 minutes.
Korda claimed ten points more than his opponent and outplayed him behind the first and second serve. Sebastian saved four of six break points and claimed three breaks from four chances earned on the return.
Stefanos pulled the break back in the opening set in the last moment before losing the tie break. The American forged a 4-0 advantage in the second set and brought the victory home in style.
Sebastian tamed his strokes nicely and fired 22 winners and 20 unforced errors. Stefanos stood on a 16-27 ratio, missing equally from both wings and failing to reach the level that carried him toward the Dubai Open crown.
They stayed neck and neck in service winners and from the baseline. Korda excelled at the net and outplayed the 9th seed 13-4, earning his victory in that segment. They served well in the opening six games, closing them in 22 minutes.
The American stepped in on the return in the seventh game and created three breakpoints. The Greek landed a forehand long on the first, dropping serve at love and falling behind. Sebastian drew Stefanos' error in the eighth game and held for 5-3.
The younger player served for the opener at 5-4 and faced issues. He sprayed a forehand error on the fourth break point, bringing his opponent back to 5-5. They served well in games 11 and 12 to introduce a tie break.
Korda led 3-2 before missing a backhand in the sixth point. Tsitsipas missed a forehand in the eighth point and fell 5-3 behind. The American landed a smash winner for two set points and seized the first with a powerful serve for 7-6 in 57 minutes.
Sebastian gained a boost and dominated at the beginning of the second set. He drew the rival's mistake in the second game for a break and welcomed Stefanos' loose backhand at 3-0 to extend the lead and move closer to the finish line.
The Greek pulled one break back in the fifth game and reduced the gap to 4-2. The American held after deuces in the seventh game, and his rival received a medical timeout during the break. Tsitsipas held in game eight and reduced the deficit to 5-3.
Korda served for the win in game nine and caused the rival's mistake for a hold at 15, sealing the deal and reaching the last 16.
