Alex de Minaur overcame a shaky start to defeat French qualifier Arthur Cazaux, securing his spot in the third round of Wimbledon. After losing the first set 4-6, the 11th seed bounced back vigorously, winning the next three sets 6-2, 6-4, 6-0, only conceding six games in total during that period.
Initially, de Minaur struggled, making 14 unforced errors compared to Cazaux’s seven in the opening games. A particularly costly serve error gave Cazaux the chance to break and claim the first set, surprising many. However, renowned Australian tennis player Jelena Dokic praised de Minaur’s mental resilience and strategic adjustments, recognising his ability to remain composed despite the rocky beginning.
The second set saw a transformation, with de Minaur’s first-serve percentage noticeably improving. Cazaux’s aggressive play began to backfire, as he found himself out of position frequently, allowing de Minaur to clinch the set in just 33 minutes.
The third set was closely contested until Cazaux’s first double fault offered de Minaur a break opportunity, which he capitalised on to take the set 6-4. Returning to the fourth set, de Minaur maintained his momentum, even after a break for Cazaux to visit the bathroom. He wrapped up the match with a dominating 6-0 score in the final set.
De Minaur is now set to face either Danish qualifier August Holmgren or Czech 21st seed Tomas Machac in the next round, with the prospect of a potential match against Novak Djokovic should both players advance further in the tournament.