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By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday February 1, 2024

 
Felix Auger-Aliassime

Felix Auger-Aliassime rallied from a break down twice in the final set to take out the rising Frenchman for a quarterfinal spot.

Photo Source: TTV

Home is where the heart is. Unfortunately for hometown boy Arthur Cazaux, it was also where the heart breaks on Thursday at the Open Sud de France.

Tennis Express

Felix Auger-Aliassime fought through a roller coaster battle with the 21-year-old Frenchman, rallying from a break down twice in the final set to earn a 7-5, 2-6, 7-6(4) victory and a spot in the quarterfinals, where another Frenchman, Harold Mayot, waits.


Cazaux came into Thursday’s tussle riding the hot hand. In Australia he was a breakthrough performer, taking out Holger Rune and Tallon Griekspoor to reach the round of 16, which propelled him to a Top 100 debut this week.

In his Montpellier debut he ripped past Maximiliam Marter 6-1, 6-3, setting up a clash with Felix Auger-Aliasime on Thursday for a spot in the last eight.

Auger-Aliassime was bidding for his 45th quarterfinal; Cazaux was hoping to reach his first.

Experience paid dividends for the Canadian as he weathered several rough patches to rally from a break down twice in the final set to defeat the World No.83.

“Arthur came up with the goods,” Auger-Aliassime said. “He served amazing, played amazing when he needed to. Honestly I was playing great tennis and then he just raised his level, he played an unbelievable game to break me in the second set.

“I had to stay calm to find a way to stay in the match and give myself a chance.”

Cazaux doubled Auger-Aliassime in the ace department, 12 to 6, but was broken four times, including once while serving for the match at 5-4 in the third.

Italy’s Flavio Cobolli, also 21 and also playing at a career-high ranking, was luckier than Cazaux on Thursday. The World No.76, who reached the third round at the Australian Open, defeated Constant Lestienne 6-4, 6-1 to set a quarterfinal with Borna Coric.

Croatia’s Coric took out Pedro Martinez of Spain, 6-4, 6-0.

In other action on the salmon-colored courts of Montpellier, Alexander Shevchenko edged Gregoire Barrere 7-6(3), 2-6, 6-3 to set a quarterfinal with Alexander Bublik.

Top-seeded Holger Rune is currently in action with Spain’s Pablo Llamas Ruiz in Thursday’s nightcap.

 

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