French Open 2025: Carlos Alcaraz stuns Fabian Marozsan and Philippe-Chatrier with 'out of this world' around-the-net winner
Published 28/05/2025 at 16:15 GMT+1
Carlos Alcaraz overcame a second-set lull to beat Hungary's Fabian Marozsan 6-1 4-6 6-1 6-2 on Wednesday afternoon. The reigning champion, who is aiming to become the first person to win successive French Open titles since 22-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal, turned on the style in the third and fourth sets to claim victory in two hours and 11 minutes.
Watch Alcaraz's 'out of this world' around-the-net winner
Video credit: TNT Sports
Carlos Alcaraz stunned Fabian Marozsan with an "out of this world" third-set backhand volley in his second-round victory over the Hungarian.
Alcaraz overcame a mid-match dip to dispatch Fabian Marozsan 6-1 4-6 6-1 6-2 on Wednesday afternoon, and in turn recorded his 20th French Open victory.
The Spaniard, who lost to Marozsan at an ATP Masters 1000 event in Rome two years ago, dominated the third and fourth sets to claim victory after a lull in the second.
Indeed, the shot of the game came in the third set, when a revived Alcaraz slid across the court and whipped an audacious backhand volley around the net post, just pinching the line.
The reigning champion subsequently stood, his hands on his hips, to take in the acclaim from the Philippe-Chatrier crowd, while Marozsan looked on gobsmacked.
"What?" exclaimed a stunned Nick Mullins, who was on TNT Sports commentary for the encounter. "It’s almost as if Marozsan is looking back to see if someone has shifted the net."
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'I had to suffer' says Alcaraz as he reaches third round at Roland-Garros
Video credit: TNT Sports
His co-commentator, Miles Maclagan added: "He might even have surprised himself. I was just going to say what a clever shot that is. It took all the pace off, let it die in. The racket control, the awareness of Alcaraz is just out of this world."
Alcaraz, who is aiming to become the first person since compatriot Rafael Nadal to retain the Roland-Garros crown, said after the victory: "It was a great, great match. I played well in the first set. I had really high confidence.
"In the second set he started to play much better, really aggressively and didn't miss at all.
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"It was a little bit difficult dealing with his game in the second set but I was pleased to stay strong and refresh in the third set and I started to play better and better. I had a really good last two sets."
He added: "Sometimes it is difficult to have fun on the court, I have to suffer.
"It depends on the opponent as well. But most of the time I am trying to not think about anything else but enjoy playing and being in this kind of court.
"I want to enjoy when I step onto court and not think about anything else. I want to play good tennis and make the people enjoy my matches."
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