After being drafted following the withdrawal of Jannik Sinner, Arthur Cazaux (85th in the world) was beaten by the Dane Holger Rune (13th) in the round of 16 of the Rolex Paris Masters on Thursday October 31, despite winning the first set 6-3, 3-6, 4-6.
Holger Rune, winner of the tournament in 2022, will challenge Australian Alex De Minaur (10th) in the quarter-finals on Friday, a direct rival to win one of the last three places at the Turin Masters (November 10-17), which brings together the eight best players of the season.
Revealed to the general public by his accession to the round of 16 of the Australian Open at the start of the year, followed by several months of early eliminations, Cazaux was solid on his service games in the first set, breaking his opponent from the fourth game (3-1).
Despite Rune waking up at the end of the round, the Montpellier player perfectly exploited his advantage to win the first act 6-3. More precise in serving as in his shots in the second set, the 13th in the world broke Cazaux in his first service game to escape in the lead (3-0) and win the set 6-3.
Cazaux saves honor
The 22-year-old Frenchman had twice the opportunity to break the Dane at the start of the deciding set, but it was ultimately he who broke first and left the controls to his evening opponent on a short side (3-2 ).
Cazaux did not score a single point in the next two games but saved the honor by catching one of his two breaks then inflicting a shutout on his opponent (5-4 for Rune), before the latter wins on his serve (6-4). Fourth Frenchman entered Thursday in the round of 16, Cazaux imitated his compatriots Adrian Mannarino (58th) and Arthur Fils (18th), eliminated earlier in the day.
The N.1 of French Tennis Ugo Humbert (18th) however created a sensation by eliminating the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, ranked 2nd in the ATP. Arthur Rinderknech (60th) must still challenge the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov (9th) later in the evening.
France
Tennis
