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[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-microphone”] Match Recap from Announcer Andy Taylor, Voice of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open
Marton Fucsovics advances to the Round of 16
Last year on this court, Marton Fucsovics had a leg-up on Novak Djokovic. Hungary’s top talent was the better player through set-1 and most of the second, but a funky challenge late in set-2 cost Marton his momentum, and the World #1 ran away with the match.
This year, after winning a pair of deciding-set qualifiers over the weekend, Fucsovics needed three more sets to dispatch American Frances Tiafoe. Not to get ahead of ourselves, but the last time Marton defeated Frances in Geneva, he captured his first career ATP Tour title.
Foreshadowing? Perhaps.
Fucsovics will face World #279 Cem İlkel in Round-2 – then either Miomir Kecmanovic or 2012 Champion Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the Quarterfinals.
Marton Fucsovics is now 2-0 versus Frances Tiafoe
► 2020. Fucsovics – Score: 64 46 64 – Doha (R1) ► 2018. Fucsovics – Score: 76(5) 64 – Geneva (R16)
Day-2. Updated Singles Draw
[/alert]Day-2. Updated Doubles Draw
[/alert][Q] Marton Fucsovics -70- (HUN)| Round-1 Announcer Introduction
A qualifier in this year’s draw, he earned a pair of 3-set victories over the weekend to reach today’s 1st-Round match. Last year, in his Doha debut, he took World #1 Novak Djokovic to a deciding set – then went-on to reach his 2nd ATP Tour Final in Sofia – and climbed to a career-high ranking of World #31. In 2018, he made his career-best run at a Major, defeating World #13 Sam Querrey en-route to the Australian Open’s Round of 16. He then captured his debut title in Geneva, and became the first Hungarian to win an ATP title in 36-years. Competing in his second Qatar ExxonMobil Open – From Hungary, this is Marton Fucsovics.
▲ R1 — def [8] Frances Tiafoe -47- (USA) | Score: 64 46 64 ▲ QR2 — def Jiri Vesely -105- (CZE) | Score: 46 61 64 | RECAP ▲ QR1 — def Egor Gerasimov -98- (BLR) | Score: 64 16 63 | RECAP
Announcer Corner | Marton Fucsovics
Marton’s fitness fuels his dogged determination, making him one of the most challenging foils for the Tour’s top talent. In 2018, he dispatched Sam Querrey (then the World #13) at the Australian Open en route to the Round of 16. Those three wins were his first main draw Grand Slam victories. Later that Summer, during a humid, sweat-soaked clash at the US Open, he took Novak Djokovic 4-sets under punishing week-1 conditions in Flushing. Last year in Doha, he pushed Novak again here in Doha, winning the first set 6-4 before falling in three.
Truth be told, 2019 was not as rewarding as Marton’s breakthrough in 2018. His ranking – and the fact that he had to qualify this weekend – reflects that. But never discount an opponent who thrives on hard work and punishment. When the chiseled Hungarian is in rhythm, he makes life difficult for all comers.
[8] Frances Tiafoe -47- (USA) | Round-1 Announcer Introduction
Here in Doha for the first time, they call this ATP Next Gen star “Big Foe.” A 2-time Finalist on Tour – in 2018, he captured his first ATP title in Delray Beach, defeating his childhood idol and World #10 Juan Martin Del Potro en-route to the title. Last season, he reached his first Grand Slam Quarterfinal at the Australian Open, his first Masters Quarterfinal in Miami, and capped the season with a Semifinal run at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan. Ranked as high as World #29, he’s a Davis Cup Semifinalist and owns 3 career wins over top-10 opponents. Making his Qatar ExxonMobil Open debut – From the United States, he is Frances Tiafoe.
▼ R1 — loss [Q] Marton Fucsovics -70- (HUN) | Score: 46 64 46
Announcer Corner | Frances Tiafoe
Last season, consistency wasn’t Big Foe’s strength. He won only a single match between the Australian Open and Miami. That said, his Quarterfinal runs at both were career firsts. In Melbourne, he earned his biggest top-10 win – defeating World #6 Kevin Anderson. And on his 21st-birthday, he dispatched Grigor Dimitrov to become the youngest American Grand Slam Quarterfinalist in 16-years. By reaching week-2 of a Major, he cracked the ATP’s top-30 for the first time. In Miami, he dispatched World #20 David Goffin to earn a career-best Quarterfinal run at a mandatory Masters event.
Victory was hard to come by during the remainder of the season. With 1st-Round exits at Roland Garros and Wimbleon, and a 2nd-Round defeat at the US Open, Tiafoe dropped outside the top-50. Still, he capped the season by reaching the Final-4 in Milan at the Next Gen ATP Finals, providing a shot of momentum to start the New Year.
No doubt, Big Foe’s breakthrough season came in 2018. As a Wild Card in Delray Beach, he upset his childhood idol, World #10 Juan Martin Del Potro en-route to his first ATP title. Again, he became the youngest American champion on tour in 16-years. A few months later, he reached his second ATP Final in Estoril. By the end of the season, he leapt 40-spots in the rankings from World #79 to World #39.
