Australian Open 2024: “I learned a lot”, retains Arthur Cazaux after his adventure in Melbourne

“I learned a lot,” remembers Cazaux. MAXPPP – LUKAS COCH

The young Frenchman Arthur Cazaux, who made it to the round of 16 of the Australian Open, estimated on Monday that his journey in Melbourne gave him &quot ;learned a lot" and is "very encouraging for the future".

You called the doctor before the third set…

I don't want to use this as an excuse, but I haven't had much luck. The evening of my victory against Griekspoor (in the 3rd round on Saturday, Editor's note), I got gastro. I spent the whole night in the toilet, it was not a pretty sight, it was a bit of a war scene in my toilet at the hotel. I had a very complicated night, and yesterday (Sunday), I wasn't able to train at all, I was on "medication&quot ; all day. This morning (Monday), it was still better, I had a good night.

Hubi marches into the final 🎱#AusOpen • #AO2024 pic.twitter.com/g1r2O0oTDf

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 22, 2024

I had prepared myself mentally for the fact that I would be a little more physically challenged today, so I went with it. For two sets, it didn't bother me too much. But since the start of the second set, I couldn't eat or drink anything, my stomach said no and I felt very nauseous. I felt the direct repercussion in the third set: I had less juice. But that's not what made me lose the match. Hubert (Hurkacz) was just better than me today."

Also read: VIDEO. The splendid point of Montpellier's Arthur Cazaux against Hubert Hurkacz at the Australian Open

What do you remember from this tournament ?

I take away a lot of positives from this week. I learned a lot and it will benefit me a lot for the rest of the season. I had a lot of firsts: first victory against a top 10, first second week in a Grand Slam… I didn't think I'd acquire all that so early in the season, it's sure it's okay will be very useful to me for the future.

"I'learned a lot", remembers Cazaux. XinHua – Hu Jingchen

There, obviously, I have to digest a little, the defeat and the gastro… I am a "matcher", a winner, obviously I am a little disappointed, because that I always want more. I had a good level since the start of the week and I wanted to go further. But I need to have some perspective and tell myself that I had a good week, and that it's very encouraging for the future.

Also read: "A war scene in my toilet" : Arthur Cazaux recounts the day before his elimination at the Australian Open

Does this make you revise your goals upwards ?

My goal was to enter the top 50 at the end of the year, that remains the case. The fact of having won against very good players this week makes me want to move forward even more.

Vainqueur du Challenger de Nouméa, Arthur Cazaux se livre sur son tournoi, ses objectifs, son expérience en Coupe Davis et ses souhaits pour 2024 🇫🇷

🎙 https://t.co/owcUUsq45r pic.twitter.com/1xoL9BSGDZ

— FFT (@FFTennis) January 10, 2024

Why not enter the top 50 even before the end of the season perhaps, but I'm not getting excited, I know it's going to be very hard, that there will have ups and downs during the season."