Marton Fucsovics and Carlos Alcaraz will be going head-to-head for the first time in their careers when they clash in round three of the Winston-Salem Open on Wednesday night.
This event marks Fucsovics’ second appearance since Wimbledon, where he made a run to the quarterfinals before falling to eventual champion Novak Djokovic. The 42nd-ranked Hungarian proceeded to withdraw from the Tokyo Olympics and Toronto Masters because of a shoulder injury. Fucsovics returned last week in Cincinnati and lost right away to Felix Auger-Aliassime via a 7-6(0), 6-3 decision. The 29-year-old finally got back in the win column this week, as he followed up a first-round bye with a 7-5, 6-1 defeat of Yosuke Watanuki on Tuesday.
Alcaraz, on the other hand, has been in fine form since losing to Daniil Medvedev during second-round action at the All-England Club. The 18-year-old Spaniard captured his first career ATP title on the red clay of Umag and successfully qualified in Cincinnati. He also got a bye in Winston-Salem as the No. 15 seed and then outlasted Alexei Popyrin 6-7(9), 6-1, 7-6(1) on Tuesday night.
As an indication of just how well Alcaraz is playing from the baseline, he won 87 percent of the points (27 of 31) even when he had to toss in a second serve against Popyrin. The world No. 54 is in stellar form, whereas Fucsovics is still shaking off some rust.
Pick: Alcaraz in 2
WWW?
I thought Fucsovics could win this in 3. I haven’t crunched them, so I’m not 100% sure.
He had multiple opportunities to break in the first set and somehow Alcaraz snuck away with the set.
Fucsovicz has a lot more experience than Alcaraz and Alcaraz is not invincible on this surface by any means.
I don’t think one loss after a huge Wimbledon is the end of the world for Fucsovics.
ouch
Not really, I was just throwing it out there because people have been annoying the hell out of me.
I have Carreno being a tight 3 setter
and Ruusuvuori probably wins in 2.
A lot of players saving themselves
1.62 is decent value for Ruusuvuori, all things considered.