World number one Carlos Alcaraz crashes out of Italian Open

Carlo Alcaraz’s 12-match winning streak came to an unexpected end as he went down 6-3, 7-6(4) to Hungarian 135th-ranked qualifier Fabian Marozsson in the third round of the Italian Open on Monday. .

Alcaraz had won back-to-back clay-court titles in Barcelona and Madrid and returned to the No. 1 ranking by winning the opening match of his Rome debut. But the 20-year-old Spaniard looked unfazed by how Marozson dictated with a masterful play all across the court, including a series of drop shots that Alcaraz had no answer for.

“It was my dream last night. And now it’s true,” Mrozson said. “I just try to do something special or win a few games or maybe a set or something like that, and I beat world No. 1 Granted – he’s our best in the game.”

The result means Alcaraz will go into the French Open – which starts in less than two weeks and where he will be the top seed – with a disappointing loss.

It was Alcaraz’ second loss on clay this year after losing to Cameron Norrie in the Rio de Janeiro final in February.

Making matters even more surprising was the fact that this is the first time Mrožson is playing in the main draw of an ATP tournament – ​​and the match took place before a full stadium at the Campo Centrale.

“Everything was perfect today: the crowd, the weather, the court,” said Marozsson.

Alcaraz jumped out to a 4–1 lead in the tiebreaker, but Marozson won six points in a row to tie it up.

“It’s amazing. I don’t know what happened during the points,” Marozsson said. “I just try to hit every ball and try to do my best.”

At the end of the second set, Alcaraz began shouting “Vamos” every time he won a crucial point. But Marozsson kept coming, hitting an 82 mph (132 kph) backhand winner over the line to get a point and winning several close exchanges at the net.

By the end, Marozan had compiled as many winners as Alcaraz, 24 to 12, and far fewer unforced errors, 13 to 24.

Marozsson next faces Borna Coric, who continued his solid form on clay with a 7-6 (3), 6-1 victory over Roberto Carballes Baena. Last week at the Madrid Open, Coric reached the semifinals before losing to Alcaraz.

Also, German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann defeated former French Open semifinalist Marco Cecchinato 6–4, 4–6, 6–3.

In the women’s event, Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina beat 2016 runner-up Madison Keys 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 to advance to the quarterfinals and 22nd seed Zheng Qianwen beat fellow Chinese Wang Ziyu 6-4, 6-4. Beaten 3-6. , 6-1 on the picturesque Pietrangeli courts.

Later, two-time defending champion Iga Swiatek faced Donna Vekic.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)