INTERNAZIONALI BNL D'ITALIA

May 15, 2023

Fabian Marozsan

Press Conference

F. MAROZSAN/C. Alcaraz

6-3, 7-6

FABIAN MAROZSAN: Hello (smiling).

THE MODERATOR: First question for Fabian.

Q. Can you tell us something about you.

FABIAN MAROZSAN: (Laughter).

Q. How you start to play tennis? Your father was the key? Is it true that your favorite tournament is the Bergamo challenger and why?

FABIAN MAROZSAN: Okay, let's start with the beginning.

My name is Fabian Marozsan. Hi, guys (laughter).

I just started to play when I was five years old. I learned everything from my father. He was my first coach. Yeah, I just started to play tennis, some tournaments. I win something. When you just doing your things and you winning the tournaments, you just keep going and try to be better.

Now, yeah, mostly I'm playing challenger tournaments. Now I'm maybe close to the top 100. This is my first ATP Masters tournament here. I'm really, really happy with this tournament.

I mean, the goal for me was winning one match in the quallie. Now I just won five match maybe, I don't know. Yeah, first time I beat a top 100 player here in the first round. In the second one, I just beat Lehecka. He was seeded. It's a really good thing for me. Today now I just played against the No. 1, Alcaraz.

I mean, it's not easy to say something. I'm really happy with this one. I beat him in two sets. I played one of my best games so far. The first set was maybe easier with one break. In the second set, I had more chance I think. I was little bit shaky. I lost some points.

Yeah, I just stay focused and try to come back from the tiebreak. It was 1-4. I just won a great point. Then I don't know what happened in the next point. I just tried to hit back the balls on the court.

Yeah, maybe he was little bit shaky, too. He doesn't want to lose the point. I was focused. I try to do something special maybe. Yeah, it just happened.

It's not easy to say something more. I'm just very, very happy with this one.

Q. I'm sure you haven't counted how many dropshots you made. Do you always play so many dropshots like today or you played more than usual because Alcaraz stays a little bit far from the baseline? What now? You think your life is going to change because of this match or maybe not?

FABIAN MAROZSAN: Yeah, I'm playing the same every time. If I'm playing on the challenger tournament, I'm playing the same. I have a lot of dropshot against everybody, not just today because of Alcaraz is standing behind the baseline.

Yeah, I mean, today everything was perfect for me. I mean, I don't want to say more about this because I just played my game. Everything happened today. Everything was excellent.

So, yeah, that's all.

Q. Your life will change?

FABIAN MAROZSAN: I don't think so because I just won one more match. I mean, I'm the same person. Yeah, I mean, it's okay. I think it's not going to change because I'm not that kind of guy who wants to do something more, something like this. I don't think so.

Q. Just curious how you were feeling before the tournament. Seemed like you were not in great form. You said you wanted to win one qualifying match.

FABIAN MAROZSAN: Yeah, last week I played in a challenger in Cagliari. I lost in the second round against Shelton. That was a great match.

But before that tournament, I had some problem with my tennis. I mean, I didn't play so well. I just lost in the first round, lost in the second round. I didn't play so well. I was a little bit confused. I don't know what to do on the court.

I just went home and started to work with someone else, so maybe I will change my team a little bit. Because of this, I just started to work harder. In Cagliari, I played much better.

I was a little bit more confident here in the first round, in the quallie. I almost lost because it was in the third set 5-4 to Skatov. He's serving for the match. Something changed. Maybe I started to be more positive. I just wanted to enjoy the game. Maybe this is the key (smiling).

Q. How did you enjoy so far the tournament? Many times these days I saw you going around Foro Italico without problem, watching matches. I don't know if after this match someone started to stop you already. Last year you played with the Match Ball Firenze. You won the playoff.

FABIAN MAROZSAN: Yes, before this match I was able to go out to the street and just walking between the fans. Now, yeah, maybe they want to make some photos or signature or something like this. Maybe now it's easier just to walking under the courts or making bigger distance.

Yeah, last year I just played for few matches for Match Ball Firenze. It was a great thing for the team to go up. I was really happy to help the team. They were very, very grateful. Yeah, I like to play there. This year I will go back for sure helping them.

Yeah, I'm talking with the coach there and with the president also. They all supporting for me. I'm just happy with this one. They try to help me.

Q. To come back on the dropshots, is it something you used to do as a kid, too? Have you always enjoyed this way of playing? Do you do it as much on hard courts as clay?

FABIAN MAROZSAN: I mean, on the hard court is a little bit more difficult because of the surface. It was my game when I just started to play tennis. It's one of my best shots - maybe (smiling).

I don't know, yeah, on the clay it's working much better than on the hard court. If I'm playing on hard court, I try to hit harder than maybe some dropshots, but less than on the clay.

Q. Can you tell us something about your idols when you were very young.

FABIAN MAROZSAN: Sorry?

Q. Idols.

FABIAN MAROZSAN: Okay.

Q. Now, in the circuit, between the fabulous four, Djokovic or Federer...

FABIAN MAROZSAN: Yeah, okay.

Q. And your father is here?

FABIAN MAROZSAN: No, he's not here.

Q. Can you tell us what do you do? What do you say to him? Papa, I beat No. 1. What was his reaction?

FABIAN MAROZSAN: I don't know because I still didn't check my phone, yeah, because I was in the physio and the gym and everything.

Yeah, I will call him after this press conference. I will say big thank you for him because he was next to me every time. Yeah, I will call him and say thank you and we will enjoy this moment.

What was the other question?

Q. Idol.

FABIAN MAROZSAN: When I was younger, my idol was Nadal. I mean, we play little bit different game. I mean, he's not playing flat like me. Mentally I think he's the best in the sport. So, yeah, he's the best for me.