Murcia’s Carlos Alcaraz, now world number one, continued his march in the Miami Open, advancing to the round of 16 by defeating Dusan Lajovic in straight sets, 6-0 in the first and a tense 7-6 in the second. He awaits the winner of the clash between American Tommy Paul and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina from Malaga, who had just secured his spot in the quarterfinals.
Carlos Alcaraz is in exceptional form. Everything seems to click for the young Champion: in Indian Wells he dominated Daniil Medvedev, then in Miami he handed Facundo Bagnis just two games in a 1 hour 4 minute victory, and in their third round he delivered another quick, flawless display, sealing the first set in 32 minutes against Dusan Lajovic in a match that finished in 1 hour 31 minutes.
On a surface as quick as Miami, the Murcia native plays almost as if lounging on a beach at home. His speed around the court dismantles opponents. An experienced adversary, the Serb managed an early break, but could not disrupt the world number one, who stood like a wall and forced the opponent into making the crucial error at the decisive moment.
With effort, Alcaraz began his match against Lajovic with a dominating 6-0 first set.
— Spanish ATP Tour speaks on the moment as it unfolded at Miami Open.
— Spanish ATP Tour highlights the Serbian’s early game plan and Alcaraz’s response.
The Serbian took seven games to win his opening game, and he carried that early pressure into the second set, possibly testing Alcaraz’s intensity. Yet the Murcia standout showed his class as the match swung, pushing into a third and forcing a key fourth set. A crucial moment came when Alcaraz saved a dangerous break point in game seven, maintaining a 4-3 lead and preserving momentum.
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— Spanish ATP Tour captures the intense exchanges as the match unfolded.
Lajovic’s response under pressure
In a pivotal moment during the tenth game of the second set, Lajovic pressured the world number one with a pair of well-placed balls after an error at the net. The first saved by a precise serve, the second found a diagonal backhand aimed at the corner, allowing the Serb to level the set at 5-5 and set up the prospect of a tie-break. Alcaraz steadied himself with a powerful serve to force the tie-break.
The tie-break started with Alcaraz earning a mini-break and quickly taking control, moving to a 3-0 lead. Lajovic fought back to 3-1, but a timely timeout from Alcaraz and a sequence of solid serves pushed the Spaniard ahead 4-1. The youngster closed out the frame with an ace and finished the match on his terms, despite Lajovic’s late rallies.
Rising challenge ahead
The next hurdle is a clash with Tommy Paul, a matchup that has drawn attention because the two have met only once before. In their upcoming encounter, the level of expectation is high after Alcaraz’s dominant showing in the recent North American swing. In Canada a year earlier, Alcaraz captured the first set in a deciding fashion only to drop the second and third sets, a reminder that even the world’s top player faces tough tests on faster courts. The run in North America culminated with a Grand Slam title in New York.
Tommy Paul, 25, sits at a notable position in the standings and carries a growing resume, including a semi-final run at the Australian Open and a run to the Acapulco final. His overall record this season reflects a mix of deep runs and tight losses, with victories over a handful of top-ranked opponents and a few close calls in the Miami competition. His recent form includes strong wins in Indian Wells and a solid presence on hard courts, signaling the potential for a high-stakes clash with Alcaraz at the Miami Open.
At this stage, Alcaraz’s manageability on faster courts, his freedom of movement, and his ability to close out tight sets under pressure mark him as a formidable tournament favorite. The coming rounds will be a true test of how well he handles the combined pressure of defending a No. 1 ranking and advancing deep into a Masters event on American soil. The crowd, the speed of the surface, and the late-stage intensity will all play roles as the season continues toward bigger showdowns on the global tour, with fans keenly watching every serve and return. This ongoing performance underscores his status as a leading figure in the sport, trusted by fans and analysts alike for clutch plays when it matters most.