TENNIS UPDATE FROM GENEVA AS FUCSOVICS FLIES TO FIRST ATP TOUR TITLE

Written by: Staff on 26th May 2018

TENNIS UPDATE FROM GENEVA AS FUCSOVICS FLIES TO FIRST ATP TOUR TITLE

epa06764947 Marton Fucsovics of Hungary poses with the trophy after beating Peter Gojowczyk of Germany during their final match at the Geneva Open Tennis tournament in Geneva, Switzerland, 26 May 2018. EPA-EFE/SALVATORE DI NOLFI |

Marton Fucsovics of Hungary poses with the trophy after beating Peter Gojowczyk of Germany during their final match at the Geneva Open Tennis tournament in Geneva, Switzerland, 26 May 2018. EPA-EFE/SALVATORE DI NOLFI

By Richard Pagliario

The theme from Star Wars blared over the sounds system in Geneva and some fans rose to their feet saluting Marton Fucsovics’ rousing flight to his first title.

Contesting his first career ATP final, the 26-year-old Fucsovics fire with command dismissing Peter Gojowczyk, 6-2, 6-2, in the Geneva Open final.

Fucsovics slashed six aces, won 21 of 23 first-serve points and did not face a break point in a 67-minute sweep.

An inspired Fucsovics is the first Hungarian man to win an ATP singles title since Hungary since Budapest-born baseliner Balazs Taroczy captured the 1982 Hilversum. Taroczy, who reached a career-high rank of No. 12 in 1982, won 13 career titles.

The first ATP Hungarian singles finalist since 1984, Fucsovics wrapped an impressive week of play.

All five opponents he defeated en route to his first title—Albert Ramos-Vinolas, Frances Tiafoe, Stan Wawrinka, Steve Johnson and Gojowczyk—have won at least one title apiece.

The 60th-ranked Fucsovics opened the season reaching the round of 16 at the Australian Open where he toppled 13th-ranked Sam Querrey before losing to eventual-champion Roger Federer.

Fucsovics showed no sign of nerves playing for his place in history perhaps because has a happy history in Switzerland.

A year ago, he played through qualifying then knocked off Jared Donaldson and Leonardo Mayer to reach the Basel quarterfinals where he pushed 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic to a third-set tie break before bowing.

“I really love Switzerland because last year I played Basel quarterfinals for the first time in my career and now I win my first title here so it’s really special for me,” Fucsovics told Geneva fans during the trophy presentation.

About the only signs of struggle for Fucsovics came at the very end of his victory speech as his microphone cut out a couple of times while he thanked his father, friends and support team.

“The last two years was a really tough period for me in my life,” Fucsovics said. “But for sure this is the nicest of my career and hopefully I will have much longer career.”

It was Fucsovics second sweep of Gojowczyk in as many meetings; he was a 6-2, 6-0 victor when they squared off in the 2015 US Open qualifying.

“It was not my best surface, it was also not my best day today,” Gojowczyk said. “The good thing in tennis is we always have another chance, another match and I’m looking forward to playing in Roland Garros.”