"Screaming like a b*tch" - Marton Fucsovics loses temper in heated battle with Sebastian Baez at ATP Lyon Open

Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics was involved in a fiery exchange with Argentine opponent Sebastian Baez in the opening-round clash at the ATP Lyon Open. Marton Fucsovics and Sebastian Baez locked horns for the first time on tour, on Tuesday, May 23.

22-year-old Baez came out on top in straight sets 6-4, 7-6 (5) after a two-hour and four minutes battle. The encounter, however, was anything but plain sailing.

In the first set, Sebastian Baez scored an early break and a lead of 2-1, which he kept a firm hold on, to close the opener 6-4. During the second set of the match, the Argentine earned a second break against Marton Fucsovics to get a set and a break lead 6-4, 3-2.

At this point, the 31-year-old Hungarian expressed his frustrations over Baez’s constant screaming. He claimed that the sixth seed was pumping himself up by shouting “Vamos” (let’s go) even during Fucsovics’ misses.

Marton Fucsovics directly confronted the 22-year-old for playing 'unfair' and stated that he was acting like a '12-year-old'. He also recalled his Italian Open loss to Cameron Norrie, where the Brit allegedly conducted himself similarly.

“How old are you? 12 years old?” he said. "You are acting like a 12-year-old. These f***ing young 20 years old guys. Not that he is the only one. Playing so unfair. “Vamos” for every point I miss. Screaming like a b*tch."

“It was the same last week, I don’t know, against Norrie. They are allowed to do this. I know. But this is too much,” Fucsovics added.

The chair umpire was unhappy with Marton Fucsovics’ use of foul language and warned him against using it.

“It’s okay. You talk with me,” the chair umpire said. "But I don’t want this kind of language. I understand that you are frustrated and you don’t like it. But I don’t want these words. I am happy to talk with you about it. But I don’t want these words, ok? Please don’t use that words."

As it turned out, Marton Fucsovics managed to break back and leveled the score at 4-4 in the second set but ultimately ended up on the losing side in the tiebreaker. The opponents had a spicy handshake and exchanged a few heated words at the net as well.

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Sebastian Baez sets up clash with Pedro Cachin after victory over Marton Fucsovics at 2023 ATP Lyon Open

Sebastian Baez is the defending quarterfinalist at ATP Lyon Open

With a victory over Marton Fucsovics, Sebastian Baez has now set up a clash with his compatriot Pedro Cachin in the Round of 16 of the ATP Lyon Open.

World No. 44 Baez, who is the defending quarter-finalist at the event, will look to go deeper this time around. The Argentine is in pursuit of his second title of the year after his success at the Cordoba Open.

Baez will also hope to get satisfactory match practice ahead of the 2023 French Open. At last year’s event, the 22-year-old almost toppled eventual semi-finalist Alexander Zverev in the second round. The German, however, staged a comeback victory in the five-setter 2-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 7-5 despite being a match point down.