The severe defeat of French No. 1 Adrian Mannarino against the ogre Djokovic in the round of 16 should not make us forget a rather cheerful Australian Open for the French.
Apart from the good performance of the last two Tricolores in the running, who will play Monday morning in Paris time (Arthur Cazaux against the Pole Hurkacz and Océane Dodin against the Chinese Zheng), the Bleu(e) had rarely had such a celebration on a first Grand Slam week in recent years.
It had even been nine years since there had been seven qualifiers for the 3rd round in the Antipodes. And to find at least three among the girls, you had to go back to 2009… So certainly the road to a major title is still very long. But if French tennis continues to struggle behind the scenes, it at least gives a positive image on the courts…
Among the men, behind the comet Cazaux, who will enter the top 100, and the indestructible Mannarino, who was barely playing the 4th round of 16 of his career, Ugo Humbert and Luca Van Assche responded.
The left-hander from Metz, 21st in the world, on the upward slope in recent months, completed two rounds despite the effects of an intestinal virus contracted at the start of the year. Before a big slump against Hurkacz, a solid member of the top 10. “I beat two guys in serious matches and I think I need to add a little dose of physicality,” summarizes the Lorraine, who has the potential to gain a few more places.
At 19, the discreet Luca Van Assche experienced his first two Grand Slam victories outside Roland-Garros with two great battles in five sets which say a lot about his character and his determination. Before falling heavily and logically on a step still too high called Tsitsipas.
“My game is starting to take shape little by little. This is the really positive point, observes the former winner in Paris among the juniors. By playing matches, I gain confidence, I have automatic mechanisms that are put in place. »
After getting out of qualifying, Terence Atmane was forced to retire in the first round against world No. 3 Daniil Medvedev, not without taking a set from the Russian. Victim of stress-related cramps, the Northerner paid to learn and continues to progress.
Arthur Fils, on the other hand, left Melbourne leaving a mixed feeling, undoubtedly due to somewhat premature expectations. After winning the Auckland tournament, Sébastien Grosjean’s protégé lost in the second round to the Dutchman Griekspoor, whom he had beaten at the US Open (and who then exploded against Cazaux). Beyond the result, the Ile-de-France resident, frustrated, had a fault in his attitude. There are also lessons to be learned here.
Among the women, despite another big disappointment for the French No. 1 Caroline Garcia, who no longer seems to know what to do to stem her bad patch (and who consoles herself with Mladenovic, in the doubles quarter-final), finally a little corner of blue skies but without guarantee of a bright tomorrow.
Clara Burel achieved a great feat by taking out the American Pegula (n° 5) before losing against Dodin and Diane Parry spent two rounds before an improbable defeat against Andreeva while she led 5-1 in the 3rd set then match point at 5-2. “This defeat will be hard to take,” has already predicted the Nice woman.
It now remains with Arthur Cazaux and Océane Dodin to transform a beautiful fortnight into an epic…