Carlo Alcaraz’s 12-match successful streak got here to an surprising finish when he was overwhelmed by One hundred and thirty fifth-ranked Hungarian qualifier Fabian Marozsan 6-3, 7-6 (4) on Monday within the third spherical of the Italian Open.
Alcaraz had gained consecutive clay-court titles in Barcelona and Madrid and secured a return to the No. 1 rating by successful the opening match of his Rome debut. But the 20-year-old Spaniard appeared stunned by how Marozsan dictated with spectacular play all around the courtroom, together with a sequence of drop pictures that Alcaraz had no reply for.
“It was my dream last night. And now it’s true” Marozsan stated. “I just try to do something special or winning a few games or maybe a set or something like this, and I just beat the world No. 1 — he’s our best in the sport.”
The end result implies that Alcaraz will go into the French Open — which begins in lower than two weeks and the place he would be the high seed — coming off a dispiriting defeat.
It was solely the second loss on clay for Alcaraz this yr after getting overwhelmed by Cameron Norrie within the Rio de Janeiro closing in February.
Making issues much more stunning was that that is the primary time Marozsan is enjoying in the principle draw of an ATP event — and the match occurred earlier than a full stadium on Campo Centrale.
“Everything was perfect today: the crowd, the weather, the court,” Marozsan stated.
Alcaraz established a 4-1 lead within the tiebreaker however then Marozsan gained six straight factors to shut it out.
“It’s amazing. I don’t know what happened during the points,” Marozsan stated. “I just try to hit back every ball and try to do my best.”
Late within the second set, Alcaraz began yelling “Vamos” each time he gained a big level. But Marozsan simply saved coming, unleashing an 82 mph (132 kph) backhand winner up the road to conclude one level and successful a number of shut exchanges on the internet.
By the tip, Marozan had compiled twice as many winners as Alcaraz, 24 to 12, and much fewer unforced errors, 13 to 24.
Marozsan will subsequent face Borna Coric, who continued his strong type on clay by beating Roberto Carballes Baena 7-6 (3), 6-1. At the Madrid Open final week, Coric reached the semifinals earlier than shedding to Alcaraz.
Also, German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann defeated former French Open semifinalist Marco Cecchinato 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.
In girls’s motion, Anhelina Kalinina of Ukraine rallied previous 2016 runner-up Madison Keys 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 to achieve the quarterfinals and Twenty second-seeded Zheng Quinwen beat fellow Chinese participant Wang Xiyu 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 on the picturesque Pietrangeli courtroom.
Later, two-time defending champion Iga Swiatek was going through Donna Vekic.
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com