Cazaux, 21, new-look Norrie charge into AO 4th Rd.

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French wild card Arthur Cazaux continued his stunning Australian Open debut Saturday, upsetting 28th seed Tallon Griekspoor in straight sets to charge into the fourth round.

The 21-year-old, who last November served as the alternate at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah, did not face a break point en route to a commanding 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 win, celebrating by high-fiving French fans on Court 3.

Cazaux, who attributes his big serve to years of playing handball as a young kid, says that he is playing with confidence and without pressure.

“I knew I could play this kind of level, but I had never proven it in a real match," he said. "Proving it in the first round gave me even more confidence and now I know I can beat this kind of player during a real match.

“Now I'm not feeling any pressure. I’ve worked very hard on my mentality and I’m ready to fight everyone; I’m ready to fight in every match and to give everything on the court."

Cazaux upset eighth seed Holger Rune in the second round and next will play ninth seed Hubert Hurkacz, who rallied from a set down to defeat 21st seed Ugo Humbert 3-6, 6-1, 7-6(4), 6-3 in two hours, 47 minutes and equal his best showing at Melbourne Park.

The former junior World No. 4 won this third ATP Challenger Tour title in Noumea at the beginning of the season.

French wild card @ArthurCazaux continued his stunning @AustralianOpen debut, upsetting 28th seed Tallon Griekspoor in straight sets to charge into the fourth round.

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— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 20, 2024

Cazaux has surged 39 places this week to No. 83 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings and is projected to break into the Top 60 if he defeats Hurkacz in a first-time Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting.

The Montpellier native is looking to become the first wild card since Nick Kyrgios at Wimbledon in 2014 to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final.

He had not progressed beyond the first round in three career major appearances before this week.

Cameron Norrie revealed a new game plan as he upset 11th seed Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-7(7), 6-4, 6-3 to claim a confidence-boosting win and reach the fourth round at Melbourne Park for the first time.

The former World No. 8 won just four of his last 16 matches at the end of 2023 and withdrew from his scheduled quarter-final in Auckland last week with a wrist injury.

There's a first for everything 🇬🇧🙌@cam_norrie takes down Casper Ruud 6-4 6-7(7) 6-4 6-3 to reach the fourth round of the @AustralianOpen for the first time.#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/3Yb6G4S0eC

— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 20, 2024

But playing confident and aggressive tennis, Norrie hit 63 winners, converted 41 of 56 net approaches and saved nine of 10 break points he faced. The win lifts Norrie back into the Top 20 of the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings and books him a date with sixth seed Alexander Zverev, who defeated 19-year-old American Alex Michelsen 6-2, 7-6(4), 6-2.

“I’ve been working really hard in the off season to be more aggressive and I freed up in the match today and let go,” the left-hander said. “I came forward, volleyed well and finished a lot of points at the net… I had to be brave. I stuck to the game plan and got through.”