Lowest-Ranked Qualifier Shock
Martin Landaluce — World No. 151 — saved a match point to beat Sebastian Korda and become the lowest-ranked Miami qualifier to reach the quarters in 32 years. (x.com)
The 20-year-old Spaniard closed out Tuesday’s match with a 2-6, 7-6(6), 6-4 scoreline at Hard Rock Stadium. (atptour.com) After the win he said the match was for his grandmother, telling reporters “My grandmother” when asked what he was thinking. (atptour.com) His run to the last eight included straight-set victories over Marcos Giron (6-3, 7-6(6)) in round one and a three-set win over Luciano Darderi (6-3, 6-7(4), 6-4) in round two. ( ) He followed those with a third-round victory over Karen Khachanov, 6-3, 7-6(2), a result the ATP said was a milestone in his breakthrough week. (atptour.com) The ATP notes Landaluce nearly missed the main draw after trailing Thiago Agustín Tirante by a set and a break in the final qualifying round. (atptour.com) That third-round win also lifted him 13 places in the PIF ATP Live Rankings to No. 123; before Miami he had only two tour-level wins and was the 2022 US Open boys’ champion. (atptour.com) He will face Jiří Lehečka in the quarter-finals after Lehečka beat Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-2 to claim his spot in the last eight. (atptour.com)
