1 year ago
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Alcaraz (left) had won 4 of his six erstwhile tournaments successful 2023 (Buenos Aires, Indian Wells, Barcelona and Madrid), besides reaching the Rio de Janeiro last and Miami semi-finalsIncoming satellite fig 1 Carlos Alcaraz suffered his earliest exit successful a tourney since October erstwhile helium was beaten by Hungarian qualifier Fabian Marozsan successful the Italian Open past 32.
Spain's Alcaraz, who volition regenerate Novak Djokovic astatine the apical of the rankings aft the event, mislaid 6-3 7-6 (7-4)
It was lone the 20-year-old's 2nd decision successful 22 matches connected clay successful 2023.
Marozsan, ranked 135th, had ne'er played successful the main gully of an ATP Tour lawsuit until this week successful Rome.
But the 23-year-old looked afloat of assurance and unfazed by his opponent, hitting 24 winners and making conscionable 13 unforced errors.
He volition play Croatia's Borna Coric successful the 4th circular aft completing 1 of the biggest ATP upsets successful caller years.
Second effect Alcaraz had won his past 12 matches connected clay, having won back-to-titles titles successful Barcelona and Madrid, and is considered 1 the favourites to triumph the French Open, which starts connected 28 May.
Marozsan caused problems for Alcaraz, who made a precocious fig of uncharacteristic errors, with his almighty forehand and cute drop-shots.
Alcaraz saved a interruption constituent astatine 5-5 successful the 2nd acceptable which would person near Marozsan serving for the match, and led 4-1 successful the resulting tie-break.
It looked arsenic though the US Open champion mightiness unit a decider contempt being 2nd champion throughout, but Marozsan stayed chill and fought backmost by winning the adjacent six points.
"It is not casual to accidental something. I americium precise happy. It was my imagination past night," Marozsan told Amazon Prime.
"I tried to bash thing special, triumph a fewer games oregon a acceptable and I've conscionable beaten the satellite fig one.
"I can't judge it. Everything was cleanable today."
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