A fight lasting almost three hours, hawk-eye broken down and third set of madness: how Arthur Cazaux ended up losing against Felix Auger-Aliassime ?

Arthur Cazaux ended up giving in to Felix Auger-Aliassime, weapons in hand. Free Midi – Alexandre Dimou

Despite an excellent level of play, allowing him to push Felix Auger-Aliassime to play three sets, Arthur Cazaux ended up falling 5-7, 6-2, [4] 6-7, Thursday February 2 during the round of 16 of the Open Sud de France in Montpellier

When looking at what started – or not – the career of Arthur Cazaux, there will be things to remember. Who knows what could have happened if a security guard in Australia had refused entry to French fans onto his court, preventing them from making Montpellier forget about cramps and then win his first Grand Slam match ?

Who knows what could have happened if the lover of La Paillade had not had a stomach bug against Hubert Hurkacz, perhaps allowing him to do much better than ;catch the Pole in the round of 16 of the Australian Open ?

And who knows what could have happened if the hawk-eye had worked at a crucial moment in his second match at the Open Sud de France, not allowing him to reverse the trend after being down one set to zero against Felix Auger-Aliassime ? And if he had ended up winning after a fight of almost three hours at the Sud de France Arena ? Nobody will know.< /p>

Also read: When a training session from Djokovic almost turned Arthur Cazaux's career upside down: the crazy story behind Butte Cazaux, from Melbourne to Montpellier

A successful tournament that he shouldn't have played

On the other hand, what is certain is that the local kid managed to have a successful meeting with “his” audience. Helped by the “Butte Cazaux” and above all, his talent. Making a Sud de France Arena stand up, reveling in its strokes of genius at the end of the third round, between winning drop shots, finished points at the net and incredible defense.

Also read: Arthur Cazaux: "I don't feel like I'm on the street", "I know the organizers want it to continue, but not everyone in the city"

Certainly, the future 80th in the world in the next ATP ranking ended up bowing, weapons in hand. But the content that he offered against the 30th in the ranking, worthy of Thursday evening as the former No. 6 that he was, is undoubtedly even more important now. time to do the accounts.

All after a tournament that Stéphane Huet's protégé should not have played following his journey in Australia. But a tournament at home cannot be refused. Fortunately.

Misproquo in the second set

The first set between the two men who know each other well had also given some clues to the titanic fight and the incredible tension at the end of the match. But Cazaux, despite having broken first in this round of 16 (4-2), saw his training companion from Monday come back up to par at first.

Before leading the score against a Hérault player committing his first double fault of the match, perhaps caught up by the stakes (7-5). What followed was this incredible first game in the second set, during which the man with the mullet took advantage of a technical problem to stop the opposing dynamic by breaking at the start of the set. Not stopping there, being so comfortable in the court to hurt Auger-Aliassime (6-2).

An unbearable end to the match

And what can we say about this completely crazy third set… During which the two men both took the other's service twice. At the best of times for the 30th world since the stage venue was used for victory.

And although he saved a first match point on a marvelous volley at the net and then snatched the tie-break, the Montpellier native ended up losing at the end, well that returned to 5-4 in the decisive game.