Hungarian Qualifier Marozsan Stuns World No. 2 Alcaraz in Sensational Rome Upset

In a jaw-dropping upset at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, Fabian Marozsan, a Hungarian qualifier ranked 135th in the world, pulled off a remarkable victory by defeating the World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz. With an exceptional display of clean hitting, Marozsan outplayed the tournament favorite to secure a 6-3, 7-6(4) win, advancing to the fourth round in Rome.

Marozsan’s Dream Come True

Expressing his elation, Marozsan said, “It’s not easy to say something, I’m very, very happy. I couldn’t imagine this. It was my dream last night, and now it’s true. I am very, very happy about this… I just tried to do something special, maybe winning a few games or a set or something like this, and now I just beat the [World No. 2].”

Despite his strong season record of 30-2, Alcaraz struggled to contend with Marozsan’s depth and precision in groundstrokes. The Hungarian’s exceptional drop shots matched his opponent’s quality, leaving Alcaraz with limited opportunities to seize control. Marozsan’s consistent performance under pressure resulted in the biggest win of his career, sending shockwaves throughout the Foro Italico.

Marozsan’s Magnificent Moment

Reflecting on his victory, Marozsan described the perfect conditions and support from the crowd, weather, and his own performance, saying, “Everything was perfect today. I’m just happy I’m doing my job… In the tie-break, it was 1/4, and I won six points in a row.

“It’s amazing, I don’t know what happened during the points. I just tried to hit back every ball and tried to do my best. I tried to find out how to win points against him in that tough situation, and it just happened. I don’t know what to say.”

Alcaraz, disappointed but gracious in defeat, admitted, “I tried to fight until the last ball, but it wasn’t enough… Of course, in the second set, it was close. I had my chances at 6-5, 15/30. I would say I could win that set, except little things happened. Of course, he deserves the win. If he plays at that level, he’s going to surprise more than one.”

Looking Ahead to the Fourth Round

Marozsan’s remarkable triumph sets up an exciting fourth-round match against Borna Coric, the 15th-seeded Croatian. Coric secured his spot with a 7-6(3), 6-1 victory over Roberto Carballes Baena. With his stellar form, Marozsan aims to continue his impressive run in the tournament.

By defeating Alcaraz, Marozsan achieved a significant milestone, becoming the first player ranked outside the Top 100 to defeat the Spaniard since 2021. As a result, Marozsan climbed 21 spots to No. 114 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings. Starting from the qualifying rounds, the Hungarian showcased his talent with victories over Corentin Moutet and 32nd seed Jiri Lehecka before his incredible main-draw success against Alcaraz.