Fabian Marozsan Adding To Hungary's Tennis Talent

‘I’d like to try that sport’. Those were the life-changing words that Hungarian Fabian Marozsan said at five-years old to his father after watching him play tennis with a friend.

Marozsan then began trying his hand at tennis while learning everything from his father, who just played recreationally and had no professional background. Little did they know that Fabian would some day be a professional tennis player who would boast success on the ATP Challenger Tour, be ranked inside the Top 200 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, and compete for Hungary in Davis Cup.

The Budapest native, who still relies on his dad for some coaching and help during practice, is off to a dream start.

[ATP APP] Fast forward to this season, when the highlight of the 22-year-old’s career came in August, when he collected his maiden Challenger Tour title in Banja Luka. Despite never playing a Challenger final before, Marozsan was unfazed, needing just 49 minutes to take down home favourite, former World No. 23 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1.

“I know it’s not happening every week that a Hungarian wins a Challenger tournament,” Marozsan said. “I was a little bit surprised because it’s a big moment and a big step for me. I just wanted to play in the semi-finals or the final, which would also be a good result for me. I was really happy.

“I lost only three games in the final, I played really well, everything worked that night. I played maybe the best I have this year.”

Marozsan is one of three Hungarians inside the Top 200, alongside Marton Fucsovics and Zsombor Piros. Fucsovics, who is the World No. 91 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings, reached a career-high No. 31 in March 2019. Piros, who is ranked No. 159 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings, won the Tampere Challenger the month before Marozsan won in Bosnia & Herzegovina.

“Marton is a really good player, he’s the best Hungarian, maybe of all time. I can learn from him; he’s confident, he knows what he’s doing. Hungary is not a big tennis country, so sometimes we practise at the federation when he’s home. Everyone wants to beat him and be better than him. We look up to him.

“[Piros and I] are the same age. He's a little bit better than me at the moment. We grew up together going to all the tournaments in Hungary and all of Europe. I want to make some similar results and play some Grand Slams [like he has]. I want to go step-by-step,” Marozsan said.

Marozsan, who is at a career-high No. 178 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings, looks to finish the season strong in hopes of earning his first Grand Slam experience at the Australian Open qualifying. A trip to Melbourne would mark a longtime goal of the youngster, who claimed he ‘wasn’t good enough’ to compete at the junior events at the four majors.

“I hope I will be on the list, we cannot say it 100%, anything can happen but I’m really excited… My goal is to play a Grand Slam so maybe I can say it’s going to happen, I’m very happy about that,” Marozsan said.

Marozsan will next compete in the Davis Cup World Group I clash against Ukraine, 15-16 September.