“Rune upset them, I’m not sure it was the best idea”: Montpellier Arthur Cazaux looks back on his exploit at the Australian Open

La joie d'Arthur Cazaux après sa victoire contre Holger Rune. MAXPPP – LUKAS COCH

Arthur Cazaux, who eliminated world No.8 Holger Rune in the second round of the Australian Open on Thursday January 18, only the third victory of his career on the main circuit, aims to &quot ;reproduce this kind of performance more often, repeat matches of this scale more often.

What does such a victory mean to you ?

"I'm gradually starting to come out of my bubble and achieve the performance that I produced today (Thursday). It was a big fight. I knew Holger (Rune) was a big fighter, like me, that it was going to be a tough match, but I was ready for it. I can't compare myself to him, he (arrived) further than me, he has a better start to his career for the moment.

On the other hand, I know what I'm worth and I work hard to try to one day reach his level. Today, in a match, in the best of five sets, I beat him. I hope to continue to have this level, to continue to progress and climb the rankings, and to get closer and closer to this type of player."

Did you surprise yourself ?

"I know I can beat these kinds of players. I knew I was capable of this kind of performance. In the offseason, I played five-set matches, against Arthur Fils, (Pavel) Kotov… I trained with (Grigor) Dimitrov and (Andy) Murray too. I saw that I could have a level close to these players, but I had never proven it in a match.

Today, that proves it to me. I proved to everyone that I could be that kind of player. Now, the objective will be to try to reproduce this kind of performance more often, to repeat matches of this scale more often, on the ATP circuit or in Grand Slams. I'm not worrying, I'm continuing to work, and we'll see what the future has in store for me."

How do you imagine the rest of the tournament ?

"My mentality is what made the difference in my first two rounds, and I hope that it will continue to make the difference for the rest of the tournament and the year. I don't like to set limits for myself.

Without being pretentious, I want to go as far as possible. I'm going to stay true to what I do well, we'll see where it takes me. We train every day to live this kind of experience, on big courts, with crazy atmospheres. It makes me want to work even more and continue, to relive this kind of atmosphere."

“Rune chambered them, I'm not sure it was the best idea”

Cazaux also returned to the very warm atmosphere made possible by the support of a small group of French supporters, as reported by our colleagues from L&#39 ;Team: "I went to see the band, they made a huge mess, created a crazy atmosphere! It's partly thanks to them that there was this atmosphere of tension that I love.

"They had already helped me in the first round, I gave them tickets for today and they were there from start to finish, he continues . I felt that Holger was tense because the guys were on edge. He chambered them, I'm not sure that was the best idea. Me, I was in my bubble."