Melbourne, Jan 20 French wild card Arthur Cazaux continued his stunning Australian Open debut on Saturday, upsetting 28th seed Tallon Griekspoor in straight sets to charge into the fourth round.
The 21-year-old sensation, who served as an alternate at the Next Gen ATP Finals in November 2023, claimed a stunning straight-set victory 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 win over 28th seed Tallon Griekspoor, not facing a single break point during the match.
Celebrated with high-fives from French fans on Court 3, Cazaux's surge in rankings to No. 83 sets the stage for a potential Top 60 breakthrough if he triumphs in his first-time meeting against Hurkacz.
Cazaux, hailing from Montpellier, aims to make history by becoming the first wildcard since Nick Kyrgios in 2014 to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final. This remarkable feat follows his previous struggles, as he had not advanced beyond the first round in three career major appearances before this week.
Meanwhile, Cameron Norrie showcased a new game plan in a confidence-boosting victory over 11th seed Casper Ruud. The British player, who had experienced a challenging end to 2023 and withdrew from a quarter-final in Auckland due to a wrist injury, bounced back with an aggressive and confident display.
Norrie's strategic approach, which included hitting 63 winners and successfully converting net approaches, secured him a place in the fourth round at Melbourne Park for the first time. The win propels him back into the Top 20 of the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings, setting up a meeting with the winner of Alexander Zverev and Alex Michelsen.
Earlier, Daniil Medvedev showcased his prowess by efficiently dispatching Felix Auger-Aliassime in straight sets 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 on Margaret Court Arena.
With a chance to reclaim the World No. 1 ranking, Medvedev's clinical performance positions him for a title run. His next challenge comes against Portugal's Nuno Borges, who caused a shock upset over 13th seed Grigor Dimitrov.
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