Martin Landaluce, aged 20, has emerged as the unexpected sensation of the Miami Open. He delivered a stunning performance to defeat Sebastian Korda in the Round of 16, staging a remarkable comeback from a set down and saving a match point. The final score was 2-6, 7-6(6), 6-4 in a grueling two-and-a-half-hour encounter.
This achievement marks Landaluce’s furthest progression in any ATP event, particularly at a Masters 1000 tournament. He has become the first player born in 2006 to reach the Round of 16 at a Masters 1000. Furthermore, at world No. 151 (having started the tournament in the qualifying rounds), he is the lowest-ranked player to advance this far at the Miami Open since Jim Grabb in 1994.
Landaluce, whose career has predominantly been on the Challenger Tour where he has secured two titles, including his most recent victory in Orléans in September 2025, had only recorded six main draw wins on the ATP circuit prior to this event. Remarkably, four of these victories have come at the 2026 Miami Open, featuring impressive triumphs over three top-50 players: Luciano Darderi, Karen Khachanov, and Sebastian Korda.
Landaluce’s victory also carried a symbolic weight, serving as a “revenge” for fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, who had been eliminated by Korda the previous Sunday. Landaluce is scheduled to face Jiri Lehecka in his next match later tonight, with play set to begin no earlier than 8:00 PM CET (7:00 PM GMT).