By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Monday, May 15, 2023
Unheralded Hungarian Fabian Marozsan was armed with a world ranking of No. 135 and a modest goal when he arrived in Rome last week.
Win a qualifying match.
Rome Shock: Fabian Marozsan Upsets Carlos Alcaraz
Today, Marozsan delivered a main-draw master class shocking world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz 6-3, 7-6(1) in a dazzling Rome debut.
One of the most stirring upsets of the season came from a man who has spent virtually his entire career playing Challengers and Futures and simply aimed to win a qualifying round in Rome.
"I played in a challenger in Cagliari. I lost in the second round against Shelton. That was a great match," Marozsan said of his Rome preparation. "But before that tournament, I had some problem with my tennis.
"I mean, I didn't play so well. I just lost in the first round, lost in the second round. I didn't play so well. I was a little bit confused. I don't know what to do on the court."
Surviving qualifying has liberated Marozsan, who frequently beat the US Open champion to the punch today.
"I was a little bit more confident here in the first round, in the quallie," Marozsan said. "I almost lost because it was in the third set 5-4 to Skatov. He's serving for the match. Something changed.
"Maybe I started to be more positive. I just wanted to enjoy the game. Maybe this is the key."
Here are 10 facts to help you get to know Fabio Marozsan a little bit better.
1. Fabian Marozsan showed his shotmaking skills and deft drop shot repeatedly edging the world No. 2 in drop shot duels and doubling Alcaraz's winner output—31 to 15—in an impressive 100-minute victory.
2. Trailing 1-4 in the second set tiebreaker, Marozsan won six straight points to seal 6-3, 7-6(4) victory in just the third Tour-level tiebreaker of his career.
3. The 6'4" Marozsan, a native of Budapest, Hungary, is also an avid basketball player and fan of hoops.
4. Fabian Marozsan began playing tennis at the age of 5 learning the sport from his father.
5. Rome is Marozsan's ATP Tour-level debut.
6. Marozsan's nickname is "Fabi."
7. World No. 135 Marozsan is the lowest-ranked man in the Rome field.
8. Rafael Nadal is Marozsan's tennis hero.
"I mean, we play little bit different game," Marozsan said of Nadal. "I mean, he's not playing flat like me. Mentally I think he's the best in the sport. So, yeah, he's the best for me."
9. Prior to this breakout Rome run, Marozsan failed to qualify for four Tour-level main draws: Australian Open, Marseille, Estoril and Banja Luka. He won just one match in those four qualifying tournaments.
10. Marozsan defeat No. 67-ranked Corentin Moutet 6-0, 6-7(8), 6-2 in first round and No. 39-ranked Jiri Lehecka 4-6, 6-1, 7-6(4) before knocking out the second-ranked Alcaraz, who will regain world No. 1 on Monday.
11. Marozsan will face another reigning Masters 1000 champion, 15th-seeded Borna Coric, with a quarterfinal spot on the line.
Photo credit: Internazionali BNL d'Italia Facebook