Google News ATP Rome: Fabian Marozsan eliminates Carlos Alcaraz, the day 6 Highlights
by LORENZO CIOTTI
A sensational twist gave a completely unexpected result during the first men's match scheduled on the Central Court of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia, in Rome. The impossible truly happened, with the outsider defeating the champion.
The player with the lowest ranking still present in the main draw of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia, the qualifier Fabian Marozsan, current number 135 in the ATP ranking, played the best match of his career and surpassed the one who will be watching everyone from next Monday again.
top to bottom of the ATP Ranking, Carlos Alcaraz. The Spaniard fought like a true warrior, trying to shuffle the cards and adapt to the explosiveness of enemy fire. All this, however, was not enough to appease the cyclone that hit him in the form of an amazing Marozsan.
The Hungarian canceled a break point in the first game and then snatched the serve to zero from Alcaraz at 2-1 by finishing with a fantastic forehand cross. The pressure didn't intimidate Marozsan when he served for the set: the Hungarian hit two aces and a winning serve.
The second game staged the same show: Marozsan pushed as if there were no tomorrow and presented a tennis that was as aggressive as it was pragmatic. Alcaraz recovered from 0-40 in the fifth game, but lost his serve at 3-3 thanks to a formidable lob pulled out of the cylinder by his opponent.
The Spaniard didn't stop believing in it and signed the immediate counter break. Marozsan also opposed the fate that often sees the underdog succumb to the strongest despite the great performance and illuminated the Central even in the tie-break.
Down 1-4, the Hungarian won the next six points by breaking down the Alcaraz defenses via an incredible series of forehands and backhands. The constant and exciting support of the crowd present on the Grand Stand Arena was not enough for Marco Cecchinato to reach the round of 16 of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia for the first time.
An extremely solid Yannick Hanfmann thought of putting an end to the journey of the Italian tennis player, who imposed himself with the final score of 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. The German's serve definitely made the difference over the entire match: he won 69% of the points with the first and 55% with the second.
Cecchinato managed to save himself in the third game by canceling three break points, but gave up his serve in the fifth by making a not exactly impossible recovery on the net. Hanfmann continued to put the blue in trouble with his service and canceled the only break point of the set by skilfully closing the net after a great forehand.
Both courageously faced the opportunities given to their respective rivals at the start of the second set. Cecchinato found the best game in his moment of need and at 5-4 he nailed his rival thanks to a series of effective forehands.
The Italian did not respond in the first part of the decisive set and was immediately caught serving in the opening game; game in which he lost control of the forehand, the last one ended wide. Hanfmann was impeccable in his innings and quickly hit five twos to seal a double lead.
The German, who made his debut in the main draw of the Masters 1000 in Rome just this year, deservedly gained access to the round of 16 and awaits the winner of the challenge between Andrey Rublev and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.