Carlo Alcaraz, the top player in the world, suffered an unexpected third-round exit from the Italian Open after losing to Fabian Marozsan. The Spaniard had been on a roll, aiming for a hat-trick of clay titles after winning both the Barcelona and Madrid tournaments.
World No.1 Carlo Alcaraz was knocked out of the Italian Open after suffering a shock third-round defeat at the hands of Hungarian qualifier Fabian Marozsan. Alcaraz was bidding to win the title in Rome, a third one on the trot as he came into the tournament after winning clay-court titles in Barcelona and Madrid.
After reclaiming the world no.1 ranking with a strong start to his Rome debut, Alcaraz saw his 12-match winning run come to an abrupt end. He was outclassed by the 135th-ranked Marozsan in straight sets (6-3, 7-6 (7/4)). Now, the Hungarian looks to keep the momentum going against Borna Coric on May 16 to secure a place in the quarter-finals.
This defeat is only the second time Alcaraz has lost on clay this year, following a February loss to Cameron Norrie in the Rio de Janeiro final. Marozsan's dominance in the second-set tiebreak served as a stern warning to the US Open champion with the French Open looming in less than two weeks. Despite the disheartening loss, the 20-year-old will still head into Roland Garros as the tournament's top seed.
The shock was amplified by the fact that this was Marozsan's very first appearance in an ATP main draw. The 23-year-old Hungarian played with incredible confidence from the first ball, dominating the match with an aggressive style and a variety of drop shots that left Alcaraz stranded. Playing before a full house at the Campo Centrale, Marozsan captivated the crowd with his flawless groundstrokes and overall brilliance on the court.
Following the match, Alcaraz admitted he never found his rhythm, stating, 'I just didn't feel comfortable. He kept me off balance.' The Spaniard noted that Marozsan's constant aggression and positioning inside the baseline made it nearly impossible for him to settle into the rallies. Alcaraz confessed to making uncharacteristic errors and praised his opponent's exceptionally high level of play, predicting that Marozsan will climb into the top 100 in no time.
Still buzzing from the win, Marozsan described the victory as a dream come true. He admitted that he initially just hoped to do something memorable or perhaps steal a set, but ended up defeating the best player in the world.