One week ago Italy’s Andreas Seppi and Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics faced each other to battle it out for the East Hotel Canberra Challenger title.
Italy’s Andreas Seppi (left) with Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics after Seppi won the title 5-7, 6-4, 6-3. Photo by Rob Keating, http://photos.keatingmedia.com.au
The players are at different stages of their careers, Seppi at 33-years-old is the experienced pro who reached a career high of no. 18 back in 2013 and was in danger of slipping outside the top 100 if he lost early at the Australian Open. Fucsovics is 25-years-old and has been battling away at Challenger level for several years where he has won four Challenger titles.
In 2017 Fucsovics started to more consistently play in the ATP 250 and 500 level tournaments without too much success, while Seppi was winning matches here and there, but did not set the tennis world on fire. His best result in 2017 was reaching the fourth round at the Australian Open.
In 2018 with both players outside the top 50 they would have been forced to play qualifying at the Sydney International. Instead, they opted to play in the Canberra Challenger, an event that boasted 12 top 100 players. It was a quality field for a Challenger tournament. Seppi said in an interview that it was like an ATP 250 event.
The conditions in Canberra were demanding, hot and windy at times, especially during the final. This was an ideal build-up for the Australian Open.
Both players have gone on to big things, as they have now reached the fourth round. For Fucsovics he will be thrust into the spotlight as he takes on Roger Federer in the fourth round, while Seppi will have a easier task in a match against Great Britain’s Kyle Edmund.
Unless Fucsovics can pull off a huge upset against Roger Federer, he will take home $240,000 from his singles effort as well as 180 rankings points.
For more photos of Andreas Seppi and Marton Fucsovics playing in Canberra visit here.
