Marton Fucsovics narrowly avoided a comeback to claim the Winston-Salem Open title.

Hungarian player Marton Fucsovics, ranked 94th globally, won the Winston-Salem Open final by beating Dutch player Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 7-6(3), claiming the tournament crown.

Notably, Fucsovics held a 5-1 lead in the second set but clinched the match via a tiebreaker.

This victory represents Marton Fucsovics’ third career ATP Tour title.

In the Winston-Salem Open final held on Saturday, Hungarian Marton Fucsovics faced Dutch player Botic van de Zandschulp in a thrilling battle, turning a near-disastrous collapse into a triumphant win to secure his third ATP Tour title.

The match began with Fucsovics taking the first set 6-3 and building a 5-1 lead in the second, but he squandered a match point at 5-2 due to a double fault. Later, serving at 5-6 and facing a critical game to stay in the match, Fucsovics found himself on the brink of a painful defeat.

Unexpectedly, he held his nerve at the crucial moment, demonstrating resilience in the tiebreak. Meanwhile, his opponent made several unforced errors, allowing Fucsovics to secure his first hard-court title with a 6-3, 7-6(3) victory.

“I really have no words. My career has been long, and I’ve won several trophies,” Fucsovics said. “Actually, this is my third title. I’m 33 and a half years old, considered an older player, but I’m still here winning this ATP 250 event.”

“So I will keep fighting. I’m really enjoying tennis right now and will play as long as I can. I love this sport, so I’m very emotional at this moment.”

Born in 1992 and physically strong, Fucsovics’ motto is “Every day is a gym day.” He became the second oldest champion in the tournament’s history (after 34-year-old Mannarino in 2022) and won titles in two consecutive seasons (including the 2024 Bucharest Open). His first ATP title came at the 2018 Geneva Open.

On his way to this title, Fucsovics only dropped a set in the second round against another Dutch player and second seed Tallon Griekspoor. He also defeated 14th seed Roberto Bautista Agut and 12th seed Jaume Munar en route to the final (this ATP 250 event featured a 48-player draw with 16 seeds receiving first-round byes).

A regular at this event, this was Fucsovics’ eighth appearance. During the match, he led 6-3, 3-0, pressuring the champion, but van de Zandschulp unexpectedly broke serve, shifting momentum. More worryingly, Fucsovics failed to hold serve twice at 5-2 and 5-4 while serving for the match.

Reflecting on the tougher-than-expected victory, Fucsovics said, “That’s tennis. You have to learn to handle these situations. Sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind, every match is like a roller coaster. The difference lies in how big the ups and downs are. But you must stay steady, focus on the next point, and do your best to win.”

“...When he started to fight back, I raised my level, moved faster, hit harder, and played more aggressively — that was the key to winning in the end.”

Earlier this week, Fucsovics was ranked 94th in the PIF ATP rankings and is expected to rise to 63rd when the new rankings are released next Monday. His career-high ranking is 31st, achieved in 2019.

Van de Zandschulp entered the tournament ranked 92nd and is projected to climb 20 spots to 72nd after this event.

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