Landaluce Continues Miami Run with Upset of Khachanov
The Spanish player advances to the fourth round with his second victory of the week against a Top 20 opponent.
March 23, 2026
ATP Tour
Martín Landaluce in action in Miami. By Redacción ATP
Prior to this week at the Miami Open presented by Itau, Martín Landaluce hadn’t registered any victories against players ranked inside the Top 60 in the PIF ATP Rankings. That statistic changed dramatically during this ATP Masters 1000 event in Florida.
Now, the 20-year-old Spaniard boasts two wins over Top 20 opponents, both achieved in recent days. He first defeated No. 18 Luciano Darderi in the second round, and on Sunday, he bolstered that impressive result with an even bigger upset: a 6-3, 7-6(2) victory over No. 15 Karen Khachanov to secure his place in the fourth round.
Despite facing two break points down in the second set, the No. 151 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, who came through qualifying, managed to dispatch the former World No. 8 in straight sets, marking his most convincing win of the week in the main draw.
Landaluce also saved a crucial break point when trailing 2-4 in the second set. His composure was also evident as he navigated a tense moment, saving two match points while returning at 5-4, the second of which came on a forced error. He didn’t falter on the third match point in the tie-break, securing the victory after one hour and 33 minutes of play.
Sueña despierto 😍
🇪🇸 Martín Landaluce vence 6-3, 7-6(2) a ⬜️ Khachanov y avanza a octavos del @MiamiOpen por 1ª vez pic.twitter.com/IAs2RhlQUS
— ATP Tour en Español (@ATPTour_ES) March 23, 2026
This is Landaluce’s third consecutive win against players with at least one ATP Tour title, improving his career record to 5-14 in main draw ATP Tour matches. This result marks his first time reaching the fourth round at this level. It’s a particularly fitting achievement here in Miami, where he earned his first main draw win on the tour in 2024 (vs. Munar).
Thanks to his strong performance, Landaluce has climbed to No. 123 in the live rankings. Another win would virtually guarantee he surpasses his career-high ranking of No. 110, which he achieved in 2025.
Landaluce’s unexpected run in Miami is a testament to his growing confidence and ability to perform under pressure. For a player who nearly didn’t develop it into the main draw – trailing Thiago Agustin Tirante by a set and a break in the final round of qualifying – his current form is all the more remarkable.
The 2022 US Open boys’ champion has clearly found his stride on the hard courts of Miami, defeating in-form American veteran Marcos Giron in the first round before upsetting 17th seed Luciano Darderi in the second. This latest victory against Khachanov solidifies his status as a rising star to watch.
However, his path doesn’t get any easier in the next round. Landaluce will face No. 32 seed Sebastian Korda, who earlier on Sunday achieved a significant upset of his own, defeating World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in three sets. It will be the first career meeting between the two players.
Korda’s victory over Alcaraz adds another layer of intrigue to this quarter of the draw, setting the stage for a potentially thrilling encounter between two of the tour’s most exciting young talents. Landaluce will need to maintain his current level of play and composure if he hopes to continue his remarkable run in Miami.
The Spaniard’s success story is particularly compelling given his relatively recent transition to the professional tour. Having honed his skills at the Rafa Nadal Tennis Academy, Landaluce is quickly making a name for himself with his aggressive baseline game and unwavering determination.
As he prepares to face Korda, Landaluce will undoubtedly draw confidence from his recent victories and the knowledge that he is capable of competing with – and defeating – the best players in the world. The Miami Open has provided a platform for him to showcase his talent, and he is seizing the opportunity with both hands.
Fans can follow Landaluce’s progress and the rest of the Miami Open action on the official ATP Tour website: https://www.atptour.com/en.
Landaluce and Korda are scheduled to play in the fourth round of the Miami Open on Tuesday, March 24th. Match times will be announced by the tournament organizers.
