By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Monday, May 15, 2023
Riding a 12-match red-clay win streak into the Foro Italico, Carlos Alcaraz ran into a 6’4″ roadblock today.
Unheralded 135th-ranked qualifier Fabian Marozsan flew through the final six straight points shocking the second-ranked Spaniard 6-3, 7-6(4) in a seismic Rome upset.
More: Qualifier Marozsan Upsets Alcaraz in Rome Shocker
The Budapest-born baseliner joined Cameron Norrie and Jannik Sinner as just the third man to defeat Alcaraz in 2023. Marozsan will meet another reigning Masters 1000 champion, 15th-seeded Borna Coric, for a quarterfinal spot.
Afterward, Alcaraz, who will regain the world No. 1 rank next Monday, credited Marozsan for disrupting his game and closing with confidence.
“I was perfect physically. I just didn’t feel comfortable,” Alcaraz said. “He made me to feel uncomfortable on court. I mean, he was aggressive all the time.
“He was playing inside all the time, the baseline all the time. It was tough for me to get into the match, into the rally. I made a lot of mistakes that I usually don’t make too much.”
Indeed, Marozsan, making his ATP Tour-level main-draw debut, more than doubled Alcaraz’s winner output (31 to 15) and stamped five love holds in scoring his biggest career win.
“Obviously these days can happen in tennis, and you have to handle it,” Alcaraz said. “As I said, in the second set I was close, I had my chances, but I didn’t take the chances. He was at the same level all the time.
“He deserves the win until the last point obviously.”
Conceding he was caught off guard by the qualifier’s lofty level, Alcaraz said if Marozsan continues to perform at this level he will surprise a lot more opponents.
“He plays at a really high level. I couldn’t follow his level,” Alcaraz said. “I mean, he was at the same level the whole match. That is very, very difficult.
“I try to fight until the last ball, but it wasn’t enough. Of course, in the second set, it was close. I had my chances at 6-5, 15-30. I would say I could win that set, except little things happen.
“Of course, he deserves the win. If he plays at that level, he’s going to surprise more than one.”
Photo credit: TIZIANA FABI/AFP via Getty Images
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