Arthur Cazaux in the round of 16 at Bercy: the crazy adventure continues for the Montpellier, who beat Shelton

Arthur Cazaux in the round of 16 at Bercy: the crazy adventure continues for the Montpellier, who beat Shelton

The Héraultais completes a historic day for the French who will be five this Thursday in the round of 16. A first at Bercy in 15 years.

The Frenchman Arthur Cazaux, 85th player in the world, drafted after the withdrawal of world No.1 Jannik Sinner, seized his chance by dominating the American Ben Shelton (19th) 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) this Wednesday evening October 30 in the second round of the Masters 1000 in Paris.

With Ugo Humbert (18th), Arthur Fils (20th), Adrian Mannarino (58th) and Arthur Rinderknech (60th), they will be five French players in the round of 16 of the Paris tournament on Thursday, for the very last edition in the Bercy room. Only once before had French tennis been so well represented in the round of 16 at Bercy. It was fifteen years ago.

In eighths against Rune

For a place in the quarter-finals, Cazaux will challenge the Dane Holger Rune (13th). “It’s been a while since I beat a top player, since Australia. But I entered the court with the knife between my teeth. I fought from the first to the last point. It paid off today hui”he appreciated.

“There is nothing better than playing in a + night session + on the Central, in front of the French public. It’s something in addition to playing in France. We travel throughout the year. When we comes back, it’s a different feeling”described Cazaux.

A set point saved

Against Shelton, the eighth finalist of the 2024 Australian Open started the game ideally by escaping 3 games to 0. He pocketed the first set with an ace. In the second set, leading 6 games to 5, Shelton got a set point, dismissed by a winning service from Cazaux. Then, ahead of 4 points to 2 in the deciding game, he gave the 22-year-old Montpellier the opportunity to come back.

Cazaux concluded on his first opportunity, with a winning service beyond 200 km/h. Initially beaten in the second round of qualifying by the Italian Fabio Fognini, the young Frenchman entered the main draw directly in the second round after the withdrawal of Sinner, who was ill, announced the day before. “It was weird to see my name” at the top of the table, in place of the N.1 seed, Cazaux joked. The dream continues…

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