Carlos Alcaraz laments 'poor level' in shock Miami Open exit to David Goffin - 'Physically I didn't feel well'

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Carlos Alcaraz is out of this year's Miami Open, falling to an upset defeat against Belgium's David Goffin in his tournament opener, after receiving a bye to the second round. After the loss, the world No. 3 admitted that he was nowhere near his best, and suggested he did not feel entirely himself on court. Goffin will face Brandon Nakashima in the third round.

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain looks on during his match against David Goffin of Belgium on Day 4 of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium

Image credit: Getty Images

Carlos Alcaraz admitted he felt off his game as he fell to a 5-7 6-4 6-3 defeat against David Goffin in the Miami Open second round.

The Spaniard suffered his first loss against a player ranked outside the ATP top 30 this season, losing back-to-back sets after claiming the opener against the world No. 55.

Alcaraz could have leapfrogged world No. 2 Alexander Zverev in the world rankings had he won the Miami Open title, providing the German was eliminated before the quarter-finals.

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However, he will now have to wait to move above his rival following a performance in which he felt he was lacking "confidence".

"I didn't play well, physically I didn't feel well," Alcaraz said after the defeat.

"When you don't have the confidence of your level physically, I think it's really tough to maintain good tennis.

"I didn't feel well in my legs. I wasn't injured, I wasn't sick. I was feeling perfectly before the match. I felt good, a little bit nervous, which is normal before the match.

"But nothing more than that. I just felt ready, I thought that I was going to play really good tennis. It didn't happen."

Goffin will now face the USA's Brandon Nakashima when the third round gets underway on Sunday.

After edging a tightly-contested opening set, Alcaraz felt his opponent improved as the contest progressed.

"It was a poor level from me," Alcaraz added. "I just wanted to play better. After the first set, I thought I was going to be better.

"He played well, he played good tennis. My level didn't increase. I think his level after the first set increased a little bit."

Goffin was delighted with his own display as the Belgian produced a stunning upset.

"It feels amazing," he said in his post-match interview. "Sometimes some matches are tough and you have to fight, like the first round, and you're happy to have a second round like that in a stadium.

"That's why I continue to play tennis, to have that kind of match in a stadium, to play some good tennis.

"[I was] just trying to enjoy the moment... I felt that physically I was ready to fight, and then I was feeling the ball really well, so it's the kind of night that you feel great, and you're happy to fight, you enjoy every point and, at the end, it's a perfect end with a great match point. It was amazing."

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