Tennis’ Next Gen continued to make strides in the second Masters 1000 event of the season, as American Sebastian Korda and Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz booked their places in the last 32.
All eyes will undoubtedly be on the Spaniard, after his impressive display at Indian Wells saw him beat defending champion Cameron Norrie, before pushing idol Rafa Nadal all the way.
The 14th seed comfortably beat Hungarian Marton Fucsovics to advance 6-3, 6-2.
He will face former US Open champion Marin Čilić next, after the Croatian beat Australian, Alexei Popyrin, 6-0, 6-3, with a vintage display, including an opening set ‘bagel’.
Korda, like Alcaraz, has enjoyed a breakthrough season playing well at the Australian Open and came very close to beating Nadal last week in California.
The son of tennis legend, Petr Korda, came back from a set down to beat 34-year-old Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas, and put out the 32nd seed.
After saving a match point in a closely fought second set, Korda dug in and his high endurance levels eventually helped him wear down his experienced opponent; 4-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-3.
The 21-year-old plays Miomir Kecmanović in the round of 32, after the Serb stunned Canadian Felix Auger Aliassime, 6-4, 6-2.
Both Korda and Alcaraz will certainly fancy their chances of going even further in Miami and continuing to establish themselves on the ATP Tour.
Meanwhile, there were a couple of surprises that saw some of the seeded stars fall.
Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili was beaten by American Jenson Brooksby 6-3, 6-1.
Awaiting him is Roberto Bautista Agut who saw off Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak in straight sets; 6-3, 6-3.
And after a bright start, Britain’s Dan Evans slumped to defeat, as he went down to Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Lloyd Harris awaits the Japanese number one in the round of 32.
America’s Frances Tiafoe beat compatriot Brandon Nakashima 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, and faces Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo next.
