By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday March 21, 2025
David Goffin rallied from a set down to stun Carlos Alcaraz out of the Miami Open.
Photo Source: TTV
Former Miami Open champion Carlos Alcaraz was hoping to get his groove back after a tough loss to Jack Draper in the Indian Wells semifinals last week.
Instead, the No.2-seeded Spaniard was bounced at the first hurdle by 34-year-old David Goffin, who rallied from a set down to earn his second career victory over Alcaraz in second round action on Friday night, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3.
“It feels amazing,” Goffin said after his eighth career Top-3 win. “Sometimes some matches are tough, and you have to fight, like the first round to have a second round like this in the stadium.
“That’s why I continue to play tennis, for this kind of match.”
Goffin played a smart and aggressive match against the four-time major champion, and he was able to convert four breaks from seven opportunities against Alcaraz.
The former world No.7 hugged the baseline and ran the court extremely well, and when Alcaraz made mistakes, he was there to capitalize.
Goffin finished with 23 winners and 25 unforced errors, while 2022 Miami Open champion Alcaraz hit 36 winners against 43 unforced errors.
“Physically I was ready to fight, and I was feeling the ball really well. It’s kind of nice to feel great and you are happy to fight and you enjoy the point, and at the end it was a perfect end. A great match point, it was amazing.”
“I think it was the key to be aggressive on the returns, especially on the second serve. Even if I missed, I had to be aggressive,” Goffin said. “I started from the return and tried to dictate. That was the key today, to try to dictate a little bit more.”
Alcaraz said he never increased his level when Goffin started to take the play to him.
"He played good tennis," he said. "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."