Fabian Marozsan saves 11 set points, wins pair of Madrid tie-breaks to defeat Aslan Karatsev

Fabian Marozsan surely won’t forget his latest win on the ATP Tour any time soon.

On Wednesday, the Hungarian survived 11 set points before winning a first-set tiebreaker over Aslan Karatsev. Marozsan would later clinch a 7-6 (6), 7-6 (2) victory in taking the first-round meeting at the Mutua Madrid Open.

Karatsev was poised to close out a one-set lead when he reached 40-0 on his serve at 6-5. Little could he know the brutal scenario that was about to play out on his side of the net in his first appearance since January 2.

The first seven missed set points:

• 6-5, 40-0: Karatsev hits backhand wide.
• 6-5, 40-15: Karatsev dumps backhand volley into the net.
• 6-5, 40-30: Karatsev nets forehand following Marozan’s backhand return.
• 6-5, Ad In: Karatsev double faults.
• 6-5, Ad In: Marozsan’s deep hitting draws long backhand from Karatsev.
• 6-5, Ad In; Marozsan nails forehand winner up the line.
• 6-5, Ad In: Karatsev shanks forehand off Marozan’s deep return down the middle.

The former Australian Open semifinalist appeared to regroup when he built a 6-2 advantage in the tie-break. Somehow, Marozsan strung together six consecutive points to snatch the set up.

• 6-2: Karatsev misses crosscourt forehand return wide.
• 6-3: Karatsev overhits forehand after putting Marozsan on the defensive.
• 6-4: Marozsan laces inside-in forehand winner.
• 6-5: Marozsan locates good body serve to jam Karatsev’s return.

When Marozsan finally reached a set point of his own, he naturally converted as Karatsev’s yanked his forehand wide.

Karatsev was playing his first match since suffering a freak knee injury during his first-round match with Jason Kubler in Brisbane. The 30-year-old later underwent surgery to address the issue.

Marozsan advanced to face No. 21 seed Francisco Cerundulo.

Other ATP winners Wednesday included 2023 semifinalist Borna Coric, Jack Draper and Daniel Altmaier.