IMAGE: Fabian Marozsan, left, is congratulated by Carlos Alcaraz after successful the third spherical match on the Italian Open in Rome, on Monday. Photograph: Alex Pantling/Getty Images
Carlos Alcaraz crashed to a humbling 6-3, 7-6(4) defeat by Hungarian qualifier Fabian Marozsan in the third spherical of the Italian Open on Monday as his quest for a 3rd straight title on clay earlier than the French Open ended in disappointment.
The 20-year-old had come into the match on the again of triumphs in Barcelona and Madrid and can change Novak Djokovic because the World No 1 for prime billing at Roland Garros which begins later this month.
But Alcaraz was removed from his greatest and acquired off to a shaky begin in his second match in Rome, dropping serve to like in the fourth recreation as world quantity 135 Marozsan constructed a giant lead and dominated the late exchanges to simply win the opening set.
IMAGE: Hungarian qualifier Fabian Marozsan in motion. Photograph: Alex Pantling/Getty Images
Marozsan continued to heap strain on Alcaraz and broke for a 4-3 lead after the Spaniard saved three breakpoints earlier in the second set, however the 23-year-old Budapest native instantly let his opponent off the hook earlier than forcing a tiebreak.
Alcaraz raced to a 4-1 lead however Marozsan hit again in very good type to reel off six factors and hand the world quantity two solely his second defeat on clay in 22 matches this season.
“It’s not straightforward to say one thing,” Marozsan mentioned instantly after the largest win of his profession. “I’m very blissful, I may have by no means imagined this. It was my dream final night time.
“I mentioned I’d attempt to do one thing particular by successful just a few video games and perhaps a set and I simply beat the (quickly to be) world primary, the perfect participant in our sport now.
“Everything was good at this time.”
IMAGE: It was the primary defeat for Carlos Alcaraz to a participant ranked exterior the world’s prime 100 because the 2021 Paris Masters when he fell to Hugo Gaston. Photograph: Alex Pantling/Getty Images
It was the primary defeat for Alcaraz to a participant ranked exterior the world’s prime 100 because the 2021 Paris Masters when he fell to Hugo Gaston.
World quantity three Daniil Medvedev earned a hard-fought 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 win over Spain’s Bernabe Zapata Miralles to achieve the final 16 in Rome for the primary time.
“I’m undoubtedly taking part in my greatest tennis on clay proper now,” mentioned Medvedev, who reached the quarter-finals in Monte Carlo and the final 16 in Madrid.
“I’ve by no means performed so effectively in Rome or in Madrid. I’m feeling nice.”
IMAGE: World quantity three Daniil Medvedev beat Spain’s Bernabe Zapata Miralles to achieve the final 16. Photograph: Alex Pantling/Getty Images
Sixth seed Andrey Rublev additionally superior after defeating Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 7-6(8), 6-3.
In the ladies’s draw, Elena Rybakina noticed off Marketa Vondrousova 6-3, 6-3 to achieve her first claycourt WTA 1000 quarter-final, the place she’s going to face both top-ranked Iga Swiatek, the twice defending champion, or Croatia’s Donna Vekic.
IMAGE: Elena Rybakina outclassed Marketa Vondrousova to achieve her first claycourt WTA 1000 quarter-final. Photograph: Alex Pantling/Getty Images
Zheng Qinwen earlier beat Chinese compatriot Wang Xiyu 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 to achieve the quarter-finals whereas American Madison Keys misplaced 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 towards Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina.
Stefanos Tsitsipas’s match towards Lorenzo Sonego, in addition to Alexander Zverev’s conflict with J J Wolf had been suspended attributable to rain and might be concluded on Tuesday.
Tsitsipas had taken the primary set 6-3 towards Sonego whereas Zverev leads 6-4, 3-3 towards Wolf.
