Martin Landaluce on breakout in Miami: ‘Everything is going to be good this week and I hope it stays that way’ | ATP Tour

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Landalus on breakout in Miami: ‘Everything is going to be good this week and I hope it stays that way’

Espanyol face Lehca on Wednesday

March 25, 2026

Martin Landaluce is having a career-changing week in Miami. Not just because he reached the quarter-finals of the ATP Masters 1000 at the age of 20, but also because of the way he achieved it.

Landalus earned a spot in the main draw through two rounds of qualifying and entered the main draw on a three-game winning streak against the top 50 players, a group he had been 0-4 against before arriving in Florida.

“It’s hard to imagine doing it after the qualifiers, but I try to do it in every game. Here, the level is very high in every round and it’s very difficult,” Landalus said. “I’m happy today; there are parts of the game that make me proud and make me think about the next game. The game was very difficult and it would be a mistake to think long term. Now I’m thinking about quarter games and trying to make tomorrow a good game.”

The latest hurdle he cleared was Sebastian Korda on Tuesday, having earlier sent off Carlos Alcaraz. Landalus won the hardest way for a young player – by getting off to a bad start, persevering and winning when the cards were stacked against him. Landalus lost the first set 2-6, saved a match point in the tie-break of the second set, and finally completed the reversal with 2-6, 7-6(6), 6-4.

The theme that defined his game and continued his week was composure under the greatest pressure. In the second set tie-break, Korda was one point away from a “W” and Landalus held his ground. He withstood the pressure, reversed the momentum, and stole the breaker. From that point on, the third set became a battle of energy and wits under the hot Miami sun. Korda called for medical assistance, but Landalus was undeterred and ultimately sealed his place in the next round with an unteachable determination that can only come from surviving days like this.

The Spaniard offered a simple assessment of how he handled the situation: “I had a tricky moment on serve at 5-4,” he said. “I don’t think I did anything wrong, he played well and at such a high level, if you are a little bit behind or the opponent is doing better, the game becomes complicated. I was in that situation in the last round against Tirant. It was a very difficult game. The key for me in the tournament is to believe in myself and believe that at some point I can switch gears when I need to.”

His comeback against Koda wasn’t a flash in the pan either. It’s a continuation of a trend Landarus has repeated this week, competing as if it were a lifeline without expecting any benefits.

“When he beat me and started playing better, I knew I had to give it my all. These are really good players and you’ve got to go out and win. It gave me a lot of confidence for what’s to come,” Landalus said. “I came out with the same mentality against Karen and today was no exception. [against] A stronger opponent than me. You try to persevere, keep fighting, and believe in yourself until you get better at it, and from then on, everything goes smoother. I’m happy with these early games, sometimes you can quit without showing your true level, here it’s going well and people can see how far I can go. It’s a good feeling. ”

Perhaps most striking is the context of his victory. Landalus started the tournament at No. 151 in the PIF ATP Rankings, but has reached the quarterfinals, a rarity in Miami history. In addition, he also became the first player born in 2006 to reach the quarter-finals at this level.

Martin has had a challenging week. His breakthrough wasn’t the result of a series of easy encounters, he was on a mission from the start. Luciano Darderi was competing in his first major tournament and the victory opened the door to the third round of the Masters 1000 for the first time. Next up is Karen Khachanov, whom Landalus faced in the round of 16 at the Masters 1000. His third big scalp came from Korda, who came into the spotlight with his victory over Alcaraz and played with the home crowd behind him.

How does Landaluce explain these results? Consistency, routine and a determination not to lower standards: “In order to perform well and maintain a consistent level every week, you have to do the same thing over and over again,” Landalus said. “I have a habit of being very calm and that helps me do things normally every day. This week, I didn’t allow myself to be passive or lower than I needed to be in terms of training and improving in games. I think that’s crucial against such a strong opponent. Believe in yourself after the game.”

Another consequence of all this is that Landaluce is on the fringes of the top 100 in the PIF ATP rankings, which in March would normally sound a bit premature. At the same time, his week was a reminder of just how close the Tour can be.

“The players in the Challenger, the top 100, and the top 150 are all of a very high level, so some players need six months, a year or even more to break through. The level is really strong,” Landalus said. “When they get a chance to get to the top, they usually do well. As far as I’m concerned, everything is coming together this week and I hope it continues to be that way. I think all the tours are playing at a high level and we should support them because they all contribute to weeks like this. We push each other and it’s great to see everyone improving.”

Some fans may not know that Landalus is a multiple qualifier for the ATP Next Generation Accelerator program, which provides additional competitive opportunities to those who have earned a spot in the program by being the best up-and-coming players in junior, college or traditional pathways. Last year, Landaluce used next-gen accelerator entries at the ATP 250 main draw (Gstaad), ATP 250 qualifiers (Marseille) and two ATP Challenger 125 main draws (Canberra and Birmingham). Earlier this year, he qualified for the ATP 250 in Brisbane. Every entry is another opportunity for the Spaniard to gain experience, preparing him for this moment in Miami.

There is also a human side to this breakthrough. Landalus dedicated Coda’s victory to his grandmother, who recently passed away.

After the game, the Madrid native also spoke about the people around him and the support that won’t be on the scoreboard but can support players when trailing on match point in tie-breaks.

“I talk to Carlitos and Rafa from time to time. I talked to Rafa in Leide. Our conversations helped me a lot. I’ve seen Carlos for a few days,” Landalus said. “They are all good people, always willing to support and help Spanish tennis develop. In the last few rounds, they didn’t say anything to me, but I know they are there, I know they are happy with what I am doing and I hope to continue communicating with them and learn as much as possible.”

Nadal himself commented on Landalus’ achievement in Miami on Tuesday. “He took a step forward,” said the 22-time Grand Slam champion, who trains at the Movistar Rafael Nadal Academy as a youngster. “I think he’s got some great shots and he needs to keep improving on the little things that will make a big difference.”

The next step is no longer to simply host “an extraordinary tournament” but to compete for a spot in the Masters 1000 semi-finals. For someone who was 0-4 against top-50 players before Miami, it’s hard to put into words what a big jump this will be.