The image has been circulating on social networks since Monday evening. Opposed to his compatriot Harold Mayot, in the first round of qualifying for the Masters 1000 in Miami, Arthur Cazaux collapsed completely, as he prepared to return his opponent’s service at 2-1 for him, 30A in the third set. The temperature is around 30 degrees, the humidity is 70% and the two men have been fighting for 2 hours 12 minutes in the middle of the heat. After remaining on the court for many seconds, lying on his back, the Frenchman ranked 74th in the world was evacuated on a wheelchair, barely conscious.
“He is much better this morning, he was able to get up and go to the bathroom with his walker”
Stéphane Huet, coach of Arthur Cazaux
What followed took an equally dramatic form since the Montpellier resident was urgently transferred to a hospital in Miami, to undergo examinations and spend the night under observation. On Tuesday, at midday, Cazaux was still hospitalized awaiting a new control electrocardiogram. “He gave us a big scare,” explained Stéphane Huet, his trainer. He still suffered a slight illness with loss of consciousness and paralysis. It wasn’t something trivial. He then had severe generalized cramps. It was a short night but he is much better this morning, he was able to get up and go to the bathroom with his walker. Everything is fine but you need to know the circumstances of this discomfort in order to know what exactly happened. For now, he is resting because he is extremely tired. »
He was allowed to leave the hospital
A little later, early in the afternoon in Florida (five hours less with France), Cazaux was authorized to leave the hospital. Verdict from the medical profession: the 21-year-old suffered from severe dehydration.
Unfairly accused by some tweeters of not having initially rescued his fellow student (with whom he won the Junior Davis Cup at Le Touquet in 2018), Mayot (22 years old, 141st) made a point of specifying on his X account: “It’s been several games since Arthur didn’t feel well and he was starting to cramp. I didn’t see him fall and I thought he was lying down because he had a cramp. When I realized it was serious, I immediately went to him and I was very worried. I did my best to help. There is nothing but great friendship and complicity between us and always has been. I wish him a good recovery and the best. »
Eighth finalist at the last Australian Open, Cazaux suffered a defeat in the second round of the Phoenix Challenger against Matteo Berrettini (6-3, 1-6, 7-5), last Friday. Also out of qualifying at Indian Wells, he won only one match during his American tour on hard court.
