Eliminated in the round of 16 of the 2024 Australian Open, Arthur Cazaux did not lose everything…
Unknown to the general public, but considered a very promising player by tennis specialists, Arthur Cazaux exploded in everyone’s eyes during the 2024 Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the year. 122nd player in the world before the tournament, the Frenchman was not qualified for the main draw, but benefited from the FFT’s invitation to play the tournament in Melbourne.
By reaching the round of 16 and notably eliminating the Dane Holger Rune, world number 8, the Frenchman made history because finding a “wild card” in the round of 16 is an absolute rarity. Only three players in history have been able to achieve this feat: Denis Istomin (2017), Lleyton Hewitt (2012) and Mats Wilander (1994). “I didn’t know, he admitted. “It sounds good. It sounds really good, of course. But I’m focusing on what’s next. I hope the tournament continues for me. I don’t set any limits for myself and I’ll see what happens.”
Unfortunately, the Frenchman was taken out in the eighth by the Pole Hubert Hurkacz, seeded number 9. Clearly beaten by the stronger side, Arthur Cazaux was however ill on the court, calling the doctor during the match. He also explained at a press conference that he suffered from gastro and that the toilets at home looked like a “construction site”.
But Arthur Cazaux has not lost everything, far from it. By passing 3 rounds, the tennis player hit a real jackpot in Australia with a bonus of around 375,000 Australian dollars, the equivalent of 229,036 euros. In detail, the first round brought him 73,279 euros, the second 109,919 euros and the 3rd round 155,724 euros.
This sum is a real breath of fresh air for the player who is launching his career and who goes through small tournaments to try to enter the world top 100, in order to enter the main tables more easily. The winnings obtained represent almost half of his earnings accumulated since the start of his career. “It’s good to have a big amount of money, like you said, because I can invest in my team. I already did that because I took a physio with me for six months . So I’ve already invested in my team and in my game plan. So I’m going to continue to invest in my tennis because I know that’s how it is. I’m going to become a better player. That’s all.” he explained at a press conference.
On the official ATP website which lists all the earnings and results of professional players, Arthur Cazaux had officially earned $510,580 since the start of his career before the Australian Open. The winnings obtained in Melbourne are added to those of the challenger tournament in Nouméa, from which he emerged victorious at the beginning of January and where he received $17,000.
