Carlos Alcaraz suffered a stunning defeat to Sebastian Korda in the Miami Open third round on Sunday.
The world number one looked set to turn the tide after producing a spirited second-set comeback, but eventually succumbed to a 3-6, 7-5, 4-6 loss.
As a result, there is only one Spanish player left in the Miami Open Men’s Singles draw.
If you were in charge of tennis, what is the first rule you would change?
That player is Martin Landaluce – the 19-year-old star talent who has stunned two top 20 ranked players in Florida.
Meet Martin Landaluce
Martin Landaluce, the world number 151, has produced the best tennis of his career to reach the fourth round in Florida.
The 19-year-old, from Madrid, Spain, began his Miami Open campaign by defeating Mackenzie MacDonald and Thiago Agustin Tirante in qualifying.
Upon qualifying for the main draw, Landaluce defeated American player Marcos Giron 6-3, 7-6.
He then stunned world number 18 Luciano Darderi, beating the in-form Italian 6-3, 6-7, 6-4.
On Sunday, Landaluce secured his second top 20 victory in as many matches, beating former Paris Masters champion Karen Khachanov 6-3, 7-6.
Landaluce will play Sebastian Korda in the Miami Open fourth round. Korda, seeded 32nd at the event, stunned Carlos Alcaraz in the third round.
Martin Landaluce is a former junior Grand Slam champion
In 2022, Martin Landaluce first showed signs of being a future star when he won the US Open Boys Singles title.
The youngster, seeded fifth at the event, defeated second seed Gilles-Arnaud Bailey in the final, 7-6, 5-7, 6-2.
For comparison, Arnaud-Bailey is currently ranked 212th on the ATP Tour.
After winning the 2022 final, Landaluce pointed to Rafael Nadal as a key reason for Spanish success at the event.
The year prior, Spaniard Daniel Rincon had also won the US Open Boys Singles title.
“He’s [Nadal] one of the best examples of sports management,” Landaluce said, as per the US Open. “He’s my idol since I’ve been playing. I think for many people he’s been such an inspiration.”
That year, Filipina star Alexandra Eala won the US Open Girls Singles title.
Carlos Alcaraz also won his first Grand Slam title at the event, beating Casper Ruud in the US Open Men’s Singles final.
