MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – While Carlos Alcaraz’s unexpected third-round loss at the Miami Open signaled a disappointing end to his tournament, Spanish tennis continues to find success in South Florida. Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos have reached the semifinals of the doubles competition, offering a bright spot for Spanish fans at the Hard Rock Stadium. This comes after young Martín Landaluce briefly sparked excitement by upsetting Sebastian Korda, before falling to Jiří Lehečka.
Alcaraz, the reigning champion at Roland Garros and the US Open, was eliminated by Korda in three sets on Sunday. The world No. 1 had previously shown resilience by rallying against Korda, but ultimately couldn’t maintain the momentum. The 22-year-classic Alcaraz’s record now stands at 17-2 for the season, following a semifinal loss to Daniil Medvedev at Indian Wells last week. The loss in Miami underscores a challenging stretch for the Spanish star, particularly given his high expectations after winning the Australian Open in January to complete the career Grand Slam.
Landaluce’s victory over Korda was a significant moment for the 20-year-old, marking his first quarterfinal appearance in a Masters 1000 tournament. Whereas, his run was halted by Lehečka. The young Spaniard’s performance provided a glimpse of potential and offered a temporary boost to Spanish hopes in the individual competition.
Despite the absence of a Spanish singles player in the later stages, Granollers and Zeballos are making a strong push in the doubles draw. The veteran duo, with Granollers nearing 40 and Zeballos approaching 41, secured their place in the semifinals with a 6-3, 7-6 (3) victory over Hugo Nys of Monaco and Édouard Roger-Vasselin of France.
This semifinal appearance is particularly noteworthy as it will result in a ranking boost for both players. Zeballos is set to regain the No. 1 ranking in doubles, surpassing Britain’s Neal Skupski. Granollers will also climb to No. 2 in the rankings. The pair previously held the No. 1 ranking simultaneously on May 6, 2024, but a recent injury to Granollers during the Canada tournament created a 90-point gap in favor of Zeballos.
Granollers and Zeballos have demonstrated consistent form throughout the season, reaching the semifinals in all four tournaments they’ve entered. They will now face Harri Heliovaara of Finland and Henry Patten of Great Britain, who advanced to the semifinals after defeating Marcelo Arévalo of El Salvador and Mate Pavić of Croatia 6-3, 6-4.
The Spanish-Argentine partnership is seeking their first final of the year. Their strong performance in Miami highlights their continued success as a team, despite not yet having secured a title together, either individually or as a pairing. They have a combined 15 trophies to their names, showcasing their extensive experience and skill on the doubles circuit.
For fans following the tournament, the Granollers and Zeballos semifinal match promises to be a compelling contest. The duo’s experience and recent ranking gains make them strong contenders for the title. The Miami Open continues to deliver exciting tennis action, even as top singles players like Alcaraz face unexpected challenges.
The next confirmed action for Granollers and Zeballos will be their semifinal match against Heliovaara and Patten. Further updates and the full tournament schedule can be found on the official ATP Tour website.
What are your thoughts on Granollers and Zeballos’ run in Miami? Share your predictions for their semifinal match in the comments below!
