In a sensational display on the Grand Slam stage, 21-year-old wild card Arthur Cazaux delivered a remarkable upset on Thursday at the Australian Open, defeating eighth seed Holger Rune in a thrilling encounter. Cazaux’s scintillating performance showcased clean baseline hitting, imaginative slice play, and electric athleticism, leaving the crowd inside Margaret Court Arena in awe.
In a post-match on-court interview, a jubilant Cazaux described the match as “crazy” and expressed his happiness after the hard-fought victory. He acknowledged the talent of his opponent, stating, “Holger is a wonderful player. I’ve known him for a long time. I knew it was going to be a big fight, and I was ready. I’m so happy, and that was crazy.”
The Frenchman’s impressive stats included 51 winners, including 18 aces, as he secured the victory in three hours and 22 minutes against the higher-ranked Rune. Cazaux’s next challenge in Melbourne will be a meeting with Tallon Griekspoor, who defeated his compatriot Arthur Fils in a four-set battle.
Rune, entering his maiden encounter with Cazaux, was seeking his 100th tour-level win, while Cazaux, with only two tour-level wins to his name, showcased his prowess with imaginative all-court tennis. After claiming a tightly contested first set in the tie-break, Cazaux continued to impress with an early break in the second set, ultimately holding his nerve in the fourth to secure the biggest win of his career.
Giant slayer ⚔️
On his @AustralianOpen debut, Arthur Cazaux knocks out No. 8 seed Holger Rune to advance to the third round.#AusOpenpic.twitter.com/2Osj5q17ID
— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 18, 2024
Reflecting on his unique playing style, Cazaux commented, “It’s a show. The tennis is a show. I gave all I have in me, and I hope you enjoyed the show. We have the best crowd in France, but the Aussie crowd is crazy.”
Arthur Cazaux’s standout performance and victory against a Top 10 opponent underscore his potential as a rising star in the tennis world. As the Australian Open continues, tennis enthusiasts eagerly anticipate Cazaux’s next matches and whether he can continue to make waves on the Grand Slam stage.
Cazaux at the Australian Open, ranking, and results in 2024
LWLWLWLWLL Currently ranked no.122, the French player achieved a composed 7-0 match record in 2024. The French player is playing at the moment at the Australian Open where he toppled the world no.33 Laslo Djere 6-2 6-73 6-2 3-6 6-2 and the world no.8 Holger Rune 7-64 6-4 4-6 6-3.
Arthur Cazaux will take on the world no.31 Tallon Griekspoor in the 3rd round on Saturday at 2:30 pm on Court 3. They have never played each other up to now in top events.
Cazaux conquered 1 title in 2024 in the Noumea Challenger.
Holger Rune in 2024
LLWWWWLWWL Ranked no.8, Rune played his last match on the 18th of January when he lost to world no.122 Arthur Cazaux 7-6(4) 6-4 4-6 6-3 in the 2nd round of the Australian Open (draw).
Presently, during this year Holger has managed to achieve a 5-2 win-loss record. Holger Rune’s most significant accomplishment of this season was reaching the final in Brisbane.
Arthur Cazaux and Holger Rune fought against each other just on 1 occasion. Their current head to head is 1-0 for Cazaux. When they played, Arthur Cazaux won 7-6(4) 6-4 4-6 6-3 in the 2nd round in Melbourne (Australian Open) on the 18th of January 2024.
In the following video you can watch the highlights.
