In the absolute surprise of the day, the number 56, David Goffin, gave the big blow against Carlos Alcaraz at the Miami Open. In a super close match, the Belgian won 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 to advance to the third round of the tournament;

After the unexpected defeat in the semifinals of Indian Wells, Carlos Alcaraz made his presentation at the Miami Open 2025 with the firm intention of turning the tide. His opponent would be the Belgian David Goffin, number 56 in the ranking.

The player from Murcia arrived with renewed motivation after the surprise against Jack Draper in California, where the British player would end up lifting the trophy. Beyond the defeat in the semis, Carlitos showed a very good level of tennis and until his clash against Draper had advanced with relative comfort overcoming rivals like Dimitrov and Cerúndolo along the way.

On the other hand, David Goffin barely reached the round of 64 in Indian Wells, before meeting world number 10 Alex de Miñaur. The Belgian came into the match knowing what it is like to beat Alcaraz, defeating him in Astana in 2022.

First Set

The first games of the match were calm for both players, but in the fourth game Alcaraz already had 2 break points, which were very well neutralized by the Belgian. Something remarkable was to see Goffin quite agitated despite the fact that things had just started. It was going to be a long night.

Little by little, Goffin became more comfortable in the exchanges despite Alcaraz’s pressure, breaking the number 3’s serve but being unable to hold his serve at the moment of confirming the break.

The set continued with a dizzying pace and long rallies until in the twelfth game, Goffin finally felt the pressure of Alcaraz and could not hold his serve to force a tiebreak. The former number one took the set 7-5 and the question would be how much more the Belgian could keep up the pace.

Second Set

The surprise was that not only Goffin would hold the pace, but he would redouble his efforts in the second set, playing with ease, using Alcaraz’s ball speed. The key to the Belgian’s game was his austerity, committing just 9 unforced errors and 8 winners against 11 and 13 of Alcaraz respectively in the set.

Given the lack of free points in the development of the match, the two-time Wimbledon champion would have a moment of inaccuracy that the Belgian would not waste, breaking Alcaraz’s serve and serving for the set 5-4.

Goffin would not make the same mistakes as in the first set and would close the second set 6-4; leaving a sense of uncertainty that could be felt in the atmosphere of the Hard Rock Stadium.

Third Set

The number 56 did not take his foot off the accelerator and early in the third, Goffin took a 2-0 lead, showing a less known face of Alcaraz, disorderly in his game. The tension reached its peak when at 0-2, the Spaniard pulled out a complicated game with his serve, surviving a break chance that would have left Goffin very close to give the big blow.

The moment of truth came very early for Alcaraz in Miami, who had slowly fallen into Goffin’s web, slowing down and especially the depth of his impacts.

The Belgian was still very firm from the back court and very confident from the serve, so Alcaraz was going to have to go for every point. Living with the frustration that things were not working out and with an opponent who did not throw a single ball out, Carlitos continued trying.

The break opportunities never came for Alcaraz, and Goffin, far from waiting, put the former number 1 against the ropes when he was serving 3-5. Carlitos could not resist and in the second matchpoint he had, the Belgian closed the match 6-3, taking a victory from another planet.

Match Statistics Goffin vs. Alcaraz

Goffin VS Alcaraz Service 3 Aces 8 2 Double Faults 2 65% (58/89) 1st Service Percentage 67% (67/100) 69% (40/58) 1st Service Points Won 64% (43/67) 55% (17/31) 2nd Service Points Won 55% (18/33) 60% (3/5) Break Points Saved 43% (3/7) 87% (13/15) Service Games 75% (12/16) Return 36% (24/67) 1st Return Points Won 31% (18/58) 45% (15/33) 2nd Return Points Won 45% (14/31) – Break Points Saved – Other 2h 16m Match Duration 2h 16m