Arthur Cazaux loses his first match of the season at the ATP 250 tournament in Brisbane

Direction Adelaide pour le Montpelliérain. EPA – YOAN VALAT

Finalement opposé au lucky looser serbe Dusan Lajovic (81e mondial), Arthur Cazaux (63e) s’est incliné lors du premier tour du tournoi ATP 250 de Brisbane, mardi 31 décembre en Australie.

While he was supposed to face the world No. 22, Sebastian Korda, the Montpellier native finally came up against Dusan Lajovic after the American withdrew just before the match. And for his first match of the season, Arthur Cazaux did not manage to impose himself against the Serbian, who was drafted from the qualifications.

Despite eight aces to his name, the Hérault native was not successful with his serve, with only 57% of first serves, Tuesday on the other side of the world.

From the third game, at 1-1, Cazaux lost his serve to chase the score. And despite having saved four set points on his serve at 3-5, he did not manage to break Lajovic, who won the first set with a shutout (6-4).

Three break points in the last game for Cazaux

The Serb continued his momentum by breaking the Frenchman at the start of the second set and saving two break points on his serve in the process.

Cazaux managed to break back to lead 3-2 before subsequently giving up at 3-3. The Montpellier player may still have some regrets since he managed to get three break points on Lajovic's serve (0-40), without converting them. Losing there again 6-4.

After this defeat in Brisbane, Cazaux will go straight to the qualifications for the Adelaide tournament (ATP 250), starting this weekend. Before heading to Melbourne for the Australian Open, where he is directly qualified for the main draw.

It goes through for Mpetshi and Monfils

In the other results of the night in Brisbane, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (31st) won after a great fight against the returning Australian Nick Kyrgios 7-6 [2], [4] 6-7, 7-6 [3].

For his part, Gaël Monfils (55th) also had to fight to win against the American Nishesh Basavareddy (138th) 6-4, 4-6, 6-1.

Qualified for the second round in Brisbane after his victory against the No. 6 seed, the Chilean Alejandro Tabilo on Monday, the Nîmes player Benjamin Bonzi (75th) will face another Chilean player on January 1st, the world No. 35, Nicolas Jarry.