“It’s going to be a great challenge”: after his victory in the first round, Arthur Cazaux faces a former world No.6 at the Phoenix Challenger during the second round

Arthur Cazaux est à Phoenix cette semaine pour disputer un Challenger dans l'Arizona. Midi Libre – Alexandre Dimou

Arthur Cazaux (77th in the world) successfully entered the Challenger in Phoenix (United States) on Wednesday March 13 in Arizona, beating the Australian Adam Walton (150th) 7-6 [5], 6-4. The Frenchman, seeded N.8, will face the Italian Matteo Berrettini, tournament guest and former world N.6, during the second round for a nice test.

More than a week after his disappointing defeat against the German-Lebanese Hassan at the Masters 1000 qualifiers at Indian Wells, probably not 100% after his long traveling from Dubai where he reached the second round, the Montpellier native therefore returned to the circuit.

Rather than wait too long for the start of the Masters 1000 tournament in Miami, for which he will undoubtedly have to play the qualifiers, Arthur Cazaux and his staff preferred to line up for a second-place tournament. division, the Challenger of Phoenix (Arizona), where he won in the first round against the Australian Adam Walton (150th) 7-6 [5], 6-4.  

Heavy from the second round

And for the second round of the tournament, the Héraultais will immediately face a former big name on the world circuit, in the person of the former world No.6, Matteo Berrettini, current… 154th ATP world.

The Italian actually returns to competition for the first time after a serious ankle injury contracted at the end of August at the US Open, when he was ranked 36th. To give himself the right to play the Montpellier, the Transalpine beat Hugo Gaston in the first round (3-6, 6-3, 6-1).

"It's going to be a great challenge, says Cazaux's coach, Stéphane Huet. Players like that, it's great to play them, to see where we stand. Even if he is a player who has often been injured and is coming back, he is still a top player with qualities that we know. It's going to be interesting because it's a good opportunity to bring your playing patterns back to the highest level to win."

"Take the game into your own hands"

After this defeat in Indian Wells then this success in Phoenix, what must the young 21-year-old Frenchman improve to win against Berrettini ? "The key to the match will be the quality of Arthur's service, replies Huet. He must regain his first ball quality, which he has lost a little recently. He must not get frustrated with his service."

Before continuing: "But his quality of return will also count because Berrettini serves very very well, so it will be played out in these two sectors of the game. We will have to serve well to make and distribute the game to prevent Berrettini from taking the game into his own hands with his forehand. Particularly when trying to counter him to make the play, he will need to find a little more spontaneity and aggressiveness to do so.