Carlos Alcaraz has crashed to a humbling 6-3 7-6 (7-4) defeat by Hungarian qualifier Fabian Marozsan within the third spherical of the Italian Open, ending his quest for a 3rd straight title on clay earlier than the French Open.
The 20-year-old had come into the match on the again of triumphs in Barcelona and Madrid and can exchange Novak Djokovic as world No.1 to take high billing at Roland Garros later this month.
But Alcaraz was removed from his finest on Monday and obtained off to a shaky begin in his second match in Rome, dropping serve to like within the fourth sport. World No. 135 Marozsan constructed an enormous lead and dominated the late exchanges to simply win the opening set.
Marozsan continued to heap the stress and broke for a 4-3 lead after Alcaraz saved three break factors earlier within the second set, however the 23-year-old Budapest native instantly let his opponent off the hook.
The set went to a tie-break through which Alcaraz raced to a 4-1 lead, however Marozsan hit again in excellent type to reel off six factors and hand the world No.2 solely his second defeat on clay in 22 matches this season.
“It’s not easy to say something,” Marozsan stated after the most important win of his profession. “I’m very happy, I could have never imagined this. It was my dream last night.
Marozsan, playing in the main draw of an ATP tournament for the first time, added: “I stated I’d attempt to do one thing particular by profitable a number of video games and possibly a set – and I simply beat one of the best participant in our sport now.
“Everything was perfect today.”
It was the primary defeat for Alcaraz to a participant ranked exterior the world’s high 100 for the reason that 2021 Paris Masters when he fell to Hugo Gaston.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
