The Australian Open took five days to experience its first big surprise. After the tremendous difficulties suffered by Alexander Zverev and Casper Ruud, and the scares of Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Stefanos Tsitsipas, finally Holger Rune was the first top 10 to say goodbye to the tournament.
The Dane was surpassed by the Frenchman Arthur Cazaux, 21 years old and number 122 in the worldwho took the victory 7-6(4), 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 after a tough battle of more than three hours in which he displayed the irregularity and lack of concentration that characterize the young promise of world tennis.
After an even start in which both maintained their service with authority, the first set was resolved in the tiebreakwhere the Frenchman opened the gap in the first points to end up taking the tiebreaker 7-4.
The second round was decided in the first gamewhen Cazaux achieved a break that he managed to maintain until the end (6-4) against a powerless Rune that could not impose its superiority.
Read also
The third set ended with the same score, but in favor of Rune and with a completely opposite development to the second, since the Dane resolved in the tenth game with a providential break that put him back in the match.
However, it was only a mirage. Rune was unable to maintain concentration and found himself with a break in the first gamea setback that he was unable to overcome despite the numerous break opportunities available to him.
Hard defeat for one of the candidates to fight, who still does not measure up in the Grand Slams. For his part, Cazaux has the best result of his career and will seek his place in the round of 16, on Saturday, against the Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor.
2024-01-18 17:36:49
#Alcaraz #great #beneficiary #big #bomb #Australian #Open
