AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 20, 2024

Arthur Cazaux

Press Conference

A. CAZAUX/T. Griekspoor

6-3, 6-3, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: First of all, congratulations to your first last 16 of a Grand Slam. After a straight-set win today, how do you feel about your performance and overall emotions?

ARTHUR CAZAUX: Of course I'm feeling pretty happy about my performance. No, I did a big match today. I'm happy for that. I stay, like, all the match I stay focused on my game, focused on my head.

And, yes, I was ready. I was ready. No, that was a good match for me. I'm happy to be in second week of a Grand Slam.

THE MODERATOR: English questions.

Q. You're 21, correct?

ARTHUR CAZAUX: Yeah.

Q. There are a number of players, you know, right around your age from Spain, Italy who have been much better known than you.

ARTHUR CAZAUX: Yeah.

Q. Here you are. I imagine you grew up playing against them or seeing them at junior tournaments? How did you do against them at the time, and what was it like watching them the last couple of years rise as you were sort of fighting your way up?

ARTHUR CAZAUX: Yeah, of course there are so many players much better in the ranking than me, young players like Carlos, Holger, Jannik, and Arthur Fils also. Of course I know them, because we were in junior together. Yes, they are superstar now, so it's crazy for them.

Me, you know, I did my trip. I had many injury, and then I did my best. You know, I do my trip, and we will see where is gonna be.

Q. Did you beat them at any point when you were younger?

ARTHUR CAZAUX: Yes, when we were in junior, I remember I played once against Carlos, but it was a long time ago. I played also many times against Holger.

But, yeah, you know, it's junior. There are so many people when we are young.

Yeah, it was long time ago, so I hope now I'm gonna play against them during big tournaments like Australian Open and can be interesting.

Q. Being so young, do you think you have the advantage of playing maybe without feeling so much pressure, even though you're at a big stage of a Grand Slam?

ARTHUR CAZAUX: Can you repeat? Sorry.

Q. Are you feeling much pressure in the matches you're playing, or you're playing freely?

ARTHUR CAZAUX: Not really, not really. No, because I work very hard in my head, in my mental, and like I said before, I'm ready to fight everyone. I'm ready to fight in every match.

You know, I'm here to give everything on court. I can play sometimes I play bad; sometimes I play good. You know, it doesn't matter. You know, the only thing important is to give everything on court. That's my rules. Now I'm not feeling any pressure.

Q. You're not a super-tall person, but you've got a big serve. Have you always had a powerful serve?

ARTHUR CAZAUX: Yes, I always had a good shoulder (smiling), because I played handball during many years. I think that's why I have a big shoulder and I can serve very fast on court.

I did, like, seven years of handball in a good team, so during all my child years, I shoot every day. So that's why.

No, it's always have a big strength on my game, the serve. I know I can improve on my serve, but it's a big strength, yes.

Q. You have done well in juniors here before, as well. Curious, is there something about the Australian Open that you particularly love? Is it the surface, the crowds, escaping a French winter, perhaps?

ARTHUR CAZAUX: Yeah. Yeah, I think so. I love the atmosphere here. Like you said, everything, Melbourne, the Aussie crowd, the site is wonderful, is a wonderful tournament. Yeah, I don't know. I love the atmosphere here. I'm feeling good here.

Yeah, in junior I played very good. This year first time in the professional tournament here, and I play pretty good also. Yeah, I'm feeling good there, and I hope it's gonna continue, you know.

Q. You're the first wildcard since Lleyton Hewitt in 2012 to make fourth round. Were you aware of that? How does that sound to you?

ARTHUR CAZAUX: I didn't know (smiling). No, it sound great. Sound great, of course. But yeah, you know, I'm focused on the next. I hope the tournament will continue for me.

I'm not fixing any limits, and I will see what's gonna happen.

Q. Were you confident coming here that you could play on this level and get to the second week?

ARTHUR CAZAUX: Yes, I know I could play this kind of level, but I never prove it, you know, in a real match.

So yeah, in me I was confident, but, you know, to prove it in the first round gave me more confident, and yes, now I know I can beat this kind of player during real match. And now, you know, I'm gonna repeat, but I was ready for everyone and even more ready now in my head and in my game.