The Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime, 30th player in the world and seeded N.3 in the tournament, qualified Thursday for the quarter-finals of the Open Sud de France in Montpellier by beating 7-5, 2-6, 7 -6 (7/4) the young Frenchman Arthur Cazaux, who was playing at home, after a superb fight. “Thank you to all my loved ones and to all the Montpellier public who responded. I love my city, I love you, I will come back stronger,” declared Cazaux just after surrendering after 2h47 of play.
“Thank you to all my loved ones and to all the Montpellier public who responded. I love my city, I love you, I will come back stronger,” declared Cazaux just after surrendering after 2h47 of play. Aged 21 and 83rd in the ATP rankings, Cazaux was playing at his home in Montpellier, where he received a hero’s welcome after reaching the round of 16 of the Australian Open earlier this year. In the first round, he authoritatively eliminated the German Maximilian Marterer (92nd in the world) with a score of 6-1, 6-3. On Thursday, he came close to a great feat against Auger-Aliassime, former 6th player in the world, since he served for the match at 5-3 in the third set. But the Canadian reacted by taking the Frenchman’s service, before delivering a very solid decisive game.
“Obviously I’m a little disappointed to lose with this scenario. It hurts a little, it was nothing but I gave what I had to give,” the young Frenchman then declared at a press conference. “I fought and there are a lot of things to take from this match. I haven’t gone far, that’s encouraging. The level is there, in the game I am not on the street facing this type of player. We have to continue to work, climb the rankings and continue to play this type of match and tournament and I think that will do it,” he added. Cazaux also returned to the superb atmosphere which surrounded his journey in his hometown. “When I returned to France, I felt that there was a lot of enthusiasm. I told myself that there would surely be a great atmosphere and that was the case. Honestly, it was crazy, I had a lot of fun, even in defeat,” he said.
In the quarter-finals on Friday, Auger-Aliassime will face another Frenchman, Harold Mayot, 144th player in the world and who received an invitation to join the table.
