“Not about to burst into flames yet”, “I’m crazy about my city”: Arthur Cazaux’s confessions before entering the fray, at his home in Montpellier

Le Montpelliérain va jouer pour la première fois chez lui dans le tableau final de l'Open Sud de France. JB AUTISSIER – OSDF

Before his first round match at the Open Sud de France, this Tuesday in Montpellier against the German Maximilian Marterer, Arthur Cazaux looked back on his great adventure in Australia, but prefers to look much further ahead.

If you had to choose between playing Rafael Nadal at the next Roland-Garros or reaching the final in Montpellier ?

Oh the fatal question… (he hesitates) I would still say a final here because it’s at home, it’s in front of my loved ones. It’s still an ATP final… Even if Rafa is my idol and playing against him once would be incredible but I would still say the home side, Montpellier, family.

Winning Roland-Garros always remains one of your dreams ?

Yes but now it's not even a dream, it's been a goal for years. Winning Roland as a Frenchman in front of all of France would be incredible. I always have it in mind and I'm doing everything I can to get there one day.

Isn’t your game more geared towards fast surfaces ?

Yes, it’s certain that I have a game that works well with fast surfaces like hard or grass. Afterwards I know that I can perform on earth also because I am physically good. I know that on clay there are big physical fights and I am ready for that. I will have to improve in many aspects so that my game is even more efficient on clay.

Have you come down from your cloud since the Australian Open ?

Yes yes. Obviously I was in my bubble for the entire fortnight in Australia. I came down little by little. I didn't get as excited as the media, I had some very good matches, I played some great tennis, beating very good players. But after that I only made the round of 16, I'm only 80th in the world so it's not an end in itself. I know that the most important thing is to continue what I know how to do, work hard and continue to progress to go even further.

Have you counted the number of messages you received ?

I didn't have fun doing it but it took a long time. The evening of my victory against Rune, I could no longer go to my Instagram account because it was bugging because I was receiving so many notifications on it. But between Instagram, messages or whatsapp… It was a bit crazy.

There were some crazy messages ?

Yeah I had Michel Denisot, Vianney who I had already been following for a while. It's always nice to see that French public figures support us.

Did you impress yourself at the Australian Open ?

What impressed me the most was the ability I had to manage myself well physically during the four matches I had to play. Because it was a first to go through Grand Slam rounds, to win in five sets, to reach a top 10. I had some big fights and physically I felt good. I was a bit unlucky because I got gastro at the end. But I felt that I still had juice for other matches, unfortunately it stopped in the eighth.

And what made you most proud ?

To see that my parents were proud of me, it's still nice. To see them proud of what I represent on the course, my values, my state of mind.

S’there was only one memory to come out of the fortnight in Australia ?

I would say the communion I had with the French supporters. I keep saying it but they were incredible with me and the other French people. They gave us such energy during our matches, they were there at every point shouting. They never lost their voice, I don't know how they did it because they screamed like idiots. It’s crazy. I tried to thank them as much as I could by giving them tickets or small gifts. But for me it was nothing compared to the energy they gave me in each match.

This start of the year proves to you that you are on the right track ?

I think yes. We have been working well with my team for a while, I have done good land preparation this year. I think the work is starting to bear fruit so that’s nice. I'm not saying that I'm going to win top 10s every week, even if I hope so in the back of my mind. However, you announced it in a video… The ATP asked me in a video what good things they could wish me for this year. And I didn't know what to answer so I told them: “Why not win a top 10 in the year”. And it turns out that three days later I won one so I'll have to find another objective (laughs).

Your trainer said that the best investment to make was to hire a physiotherapist, you agree ?

I thought he was going to say rubbish (laughs). Yes it was the best investment in my project because I had a lot of big injuries. I got to know my body more and more over the years and I told myself that if there was a big investment to make it was for my body. The main change is that I haven't been injured since that, I'm not saying it has anything to do with it but it's largely thanks to that.

How did you experience these periods of injury, it’s mentally tough ?

Obviously these were difficult times for me. Being injured is the hardest thing for an athlete since we are deprived of our passion and what drives us. But I'm someone who likes to do lots of things so I tried to clear my mind by being with my friends and my family so I had a pretty good time with it. With hindsight and time, it served me a lot in my state of mind and my mental approach. If I am mentally strong today, it’s thanks to the injuries.

What will this start of the season change for the rest ?

I'll only be able to do ATP tournaments, enter the tables of 250, the qualifiers of 1000 so that's nice. And on the financial side it's nice, I will be able to continue to invest in the project, by continuing to have a physiotherapist with me all year round, why not bring my mental trainer with me.

You are not the first French person to perform like this, how do you understand all this ?

(He breathes) I don't even dread it, I stay focused on what I know how to do best and on myself, on what has allowed me to achieve ;be successful in Australia. The media are getting a little excited, if I play less well in the coming weeks we're going to hear less but that's life and I've seen it clearly ;other athletes. It's nice when there's enthusiasm behind us, but it's not an end in itself. The road is so long, I am so far from the goals I set for myself. So I'm not about to burst into flames just yet, it's not part of my character.

What do you like about tennis ? 

The game already, the spectacle side. And also the atmospheres, playing in a big court, even if I haven't done it much yet.

It transcends you more than it puts pressure on you ?

Yes honestly it really transcends me. It’s for this kind of atmosphere that I love tennis and that I train every day.

You like the notion of combat too ?

I have always had this fighter character on the court. To not give up, to be a real lion in a cage on the pitch. It comes from the fact that I like combat sports like MMA. So before matches, I like to imagine myself in a cage and think that I should not do any favors to my opponent.

What is the relationship you have with Montpellier, your hometown ?

It’s my hometown, I’m crazy about my city, I’m in love with it. I find it incredible in its richness, history and sport. There is everything here, my friends, my family… It’s the place where I unwind and think about something else. Even though I left my family cocoon to go to Paris when I was 18, I still have my ties here and I come back as soon as I can. I'm proud to represent my city and play at home.

And why this love of the MHSC ?

Because it is the best club in France, it is a club with great values, as my parents instilled in me. This Nicollin family adventure since they created this club is incredible. I have immense respect for them.

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