Australian Open: Alcaraz, Dodin, Cazaux what to remember from the night in Melbourne

The confirmation

The dream continues for Arthur Cazaux. After the success against the Dane Holger Rune, the Montpellier native (21 years old; 122nd in the world) made his 3rd round a formality. He dominated 6-3, 6-3, 6 - the Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor (seeded n°28) who had eliminated Arthur Fils in the 2nd round. Arthur Cazaux is the first player invited to reach the round of 16 of the Australian Open since Lleyton Hewitt in 2012 and the second non-Australian in the Open era after Mats Wilander in 1994. Here is the Frenchman in good company... A year ago, Arthur Cazaux was ranked 230th in the world. He will be in the Top 100 in the next ATP rankings. For a place in the quarter-finals, Arthur Cazaux who finished with three aces will face the Pole Hubert Hurkacz (n°21) who dismissed Ugo Humbert 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7/4), 6 -3.

The number: 1

At 27 years old and during her 20th Grand Slam tournament, Océane Dodin offers herself a first round of 16. The Northerner who dominated the 100% French duel against Clara Burel 6-2, 6-4, is the second oldest French player when she qualifies for the first time in her career in the 1/8 finals of a Grand Slam tournament. The Northerner summed up, delighted: “As the score rolled by, it immediately relieved me of stress. I had my little bout of stress at 3-1 (in the 2nd set) when I missed my 4-1 balls because I knew that I shouldn't let her come back because she could relax at that moment and gain confidence but I managed to attack him on my returns and that, I think, is what made the difference. It was difficult to deal with emotionally today, more so than the other matches. When you play a French woman, it's not easy. I managed it a little better, I was less stressed than her today.” She will be opposed to the Chinese Qinwen Zheng (seeded n°12).

The sentence "I watched Li Na's finale more than ten times." Signed by the Chinese Qinwen Zheng (n°12) who eliminated her compatriot Yafan Wang 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (10/8). “I was sitting in front of the TV. I watched it from start to finish. I watched this finale more than 10 times. So I have a lot of memories. She is incredible. The first Asian to have won a grand slam (Li Na had dominated the Slovakian Dominika Cibulkova 7-6, 6-0 in 2014 in Melbourne),” said Qinwen Zhen, still out of breath after a breathtaking super tie-break and a match point intense. Zheng Qinwen tied Li Na as the Chinese woman with the most wins (17) in their first 25 women's singles matches at Grand Slam tournaments.

L'abandon

For his 201st match on the circuit, Carlos Alcaraz faced a player younger than him for the first time. For the Chinese Juncheng Shang (18 years old; 140th in the world), the party came to an abrupt end. Injured, he was forced to retire at the start of the 3rd set. He was down 6-1, 6-1, 1-0. For a place in the quarter-finals, the Spaniard will face Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic.

The surprise

The Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic (60th in the world) rejected 2 match points in the tie-break of the 4th set, before emerging 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 7-6 (9/7), 6-0 the American Tommy Paul (seeded n°14), semi-finalist in Melbourne in 2023.

The blow of the night

Hit by Hubert Hurkacz. Caught up in speed on a return of service from Ugo Humbert, Hubert Hurkacz manages to perform a forehand between the legs more powerful than a simple delivery which surprises the Frenchman. The symbol of a brilliant return. The Frenchman had dominated the Pole during the first round before seeing him seize the reins of the game with authority, notably thanks to a solid serve (17 aces; 81% of points scored on his first serve). To win 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3.

L'info

Novak Djokovic will face Adrian Mannarino on the night of Saturday to Sunday in the 2nd match of the day session at the Rod Laver Arena. This is the first time the Serbian has been scheduled for a day session at Melbourne Park since 2021.

The tweetThe visit of the legend Rod Laver (85 years old). “It’s a pleasure to be back at the OA with my loved ones.”

To be continued, Swiatek, Zverev and Medvedev on the programThe Pole (n°1) seriously jostled in the 2nd round by the American Danielle Collins returns to the court against the Czech Linda Noskova (50th in the world) for a place in the round of 16. From 9am. Rod Laver Arena: Iga Swiatek (POL/n°1)-Linda Noskova (RTC)Alexander Zverev (GER/n°6)-Alex Michelsen (USA). Margareth Court Arena: Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN/n°27)-Daniil Medvedev (RUS/n°3); Elina Svitolina (UKR/n°19)-Viktorija Golubic (SUI).