Australian Open: Hurkacz ends Cazaux’s dream run, reaches AO quarter-finals

Pole Hubert Hurkacz, the No 9 seed, reached his maiden quarter-finals at the Australian Open as he ended the fairy tale run of 21-year-old French wildcard Arthur Cazaux 7-6 (6), 7-6 (3), 6-4 at Melbourne Park on Monday evening.

Hurkacz, ranked No 9, came through a hotly contested battle in two hours and 28 minutes to set a last eight clash with Russian Daniil Medvedev, the No 3 seed.

Hurkacz owns the 3-2 lifetime edge in the pair’s head-to-head, and he has won the last two matches they have contested.

Cazaux cracked 18 aces and saved six of eight break points, but Hurkacz was even more lethal on serve. The Pole won 49 of 54 first-serve points and only faced one break points (which was converted by Cazaux in the second game of the match).

Both players cracked 41 winners and the difference in the match came down to the No 9 seeds excellence in the tiebreaks – Hurkacz is now 4-1 in tiebreaks at this Australian Open.

Despite the loss it was a giant step for Cazaux, who entered the tournament with a 0-3 lifetime record at the majors. The 21-year-old Montpellier native appears to have a bright future in the sport.

Ahead of his victory, the Pole won against Australian qualifier Omar Jasika (7-6 (4), 6-4, 6-2), qualifier Jakub Mensik (6-7 (9), 6-1, 5-7, 6-1, 6-3) and Frenchman Ugo Humbert, the No 21 seed (3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (4), 6-3).

Cazaux, ranked No 122, defeated Serb Laslo Djere (6-2, 6-7 (3), 6-2, 3-6, 6-2), Dane Holger Rune, the No 8 seed (7-6 (4), 6-4, 4-6, 6-3) and Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor, the No 28 seed (6-3, 6-3, 6-1) earlier in the tournament.

Read also

Poland, Federer, Miami: Everything you always wanted to know about Hubert Hurkacz (but never had time to find out) – updated after Lendl, Massu joining as coaches

Tennis Majors

Melbourne (Grand Slam), other last 16 results (Melbourne Park, hard, USD 58.910.000, most recent results first):

• Miomir Kecmanovic vs. Carlos Alcaraz
• Alexander Zverev vs. Cameron Norrie: monday
• Daniil Medvedev beat Nuno Borges: 6-3, 7-6 (4), 5-7, 6-1
• Andrey Rublev (5) beat Alex De Minaur (10): 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-0
• Jannik Sinner (4) beat Karen Khachanov (15): 6-4, 7-5, 6-3
• Taylor Fritz (12) beat Stefanos Tsitsipas (7): 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-3, 6-3
• Novak Djokovic (1) beat Adrian Mannarino (20): 6-0, 6-0, 6-3