Alcaraz Advances to French Open Third Round After Defeating Marozsan

Paris, France — Carlos Alcaraz, the defending champion, defeated Fabian Marozsan 6-1, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 in the second round of the French Open on Wednesday. Alcaraz faced challenges from his Hungarian opponent but bounced back from a second-set loss to secure his spot in the third round.

Alcaraz, currently ranked No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings, displayed his skills on Court Philippe-Chatrier. After winning the first set comfortably, he encountered a stronger performance from Marozsan, who managed to take the second set with aggressive play. ‘In the second set, he started to play much better; he didn’t miss at all,’ Alcaraz noted, acknowledging the intensity of Marozsan’s game.

However, the 22-year-old Spaniard regained his composure, dominating the final two sets with a series of impressive passing shots. ‘I was pleased to stay strong and refresh in the third set and started to play better,’ he said after the match.

This victory marks Alcaraz’s 20th win, making him the first player born in the 2000s to reach this milestone. He is now 29-2 on clay since last May, which includes significant titles in Monte Carlo and Rome this year.

Injuries had previously posed challenges for Alcaraz, who withdrew from the Masters 1000 in Madrid due to an adductor injury. Nonetheless, he moved freely during this match, suggesting a full recovery.

Looking ahead, Alcaraz will face either Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard or Bosnian Damir Dzumhur in the third round. Alcaraz aims to become the first man since Rafael Nadal in 2020 to successfully defend the title in Paris.

Meanwhile, the tournament saw the exit of seventh-seeded Casper Ruud, who lost to Portugal’s Nuno Borges. Ruud expressed concern about ongoing knee pain but remained proud of his performance in the early rounds.