Benjamin Bonzi, Arthur Cazaux and Valentin Royer have all qualified for the second round of the Masters 1000 in Shanghai. Royer will now have the honor of challenging Alexander Zverev.
The day had started badly in Shanghai for the tricolor clan with the elimination of Terence Atmane and Ugo Blanchet, but she continued much, and here is Benjamin Bonzi, Arthur Cazaux and Valentin Royer in the second round! At 29, Benjamin Bonzi was playing for the first time in his career in the Masters 1000 in Shanghai this Thursday. And the Gardois, which was still 175th in the past year and shied the Challenger circuit, won!
Opposed to the American giant of 2.11m Reilly Opelka (61st) in an always trashy match, the world number 47 came out in two sets and 1h35 of play: 7-6, 6-4. Faced with the great server of Michigan, author of 11 Aces, Bonzi, advised this week by Constant Lestienne since his coach Nicolas Mahut stayed in France to ensure his role as a TV consultant, chose to stay far behind his background line, and that paid. He managed to break Opelka twice, while being better in the game, including a few well-felt passings when his opponent was trying volumes.
Bonzi will challenge Diallo
Benjamin Bonzi Breaké from his first opportunity in this match to lead 3-0 then 4-2, but he then lost his service at 5-3. On the next game, he led 0-40 on Opelka’s service, but the American has multiplied the winning services to erase the three set balls, and pick up at 5-5. The two players finally decided in the tie-break, perfectly mastered by the French, who won 7-2.
In the second round, Bonzi still led 0-40 on the service of his opponent but did not succeed in Breaker (at 1-1). He finally succeeded at 3-3, on a passing, while Opelka got angry against the painting of the bottom line, guilty of having made him miss a forehand due to a false rebound. Bonzi finally concluded 5-4 on his first match ball, and it is now Gabriel Diallo, seeded n ° 31, who awaits him.
Cazaux in pain
Arthur Cazaux, 80th in the world and eliminated in the 2nd round last year, began his tournament against the 70th Pedro Martinez. And he beat it on the score of 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 after a battle of 3h02 disputed under 28 ° C and especially 84% of humidity. The Montpellier served 24 aces during this meeting, and lost his service twice. The first set went well for him, with a break at 1-0 and a round won at 5-3 on his second opportunity. But in the second, the Spaniard took the service of the French at 2-1 and was not worried to pick up a set everywhere.
It was therefore necessary to compete for a third, and he started well for Cazaux, who led 3-0 but, reduced by pain in the right arm which required the intervention of the physiotherapist twice, saw his opponent pick up at 4-4. And finally, at 6-5 in his favor, the Frenchman achieved a big return game to win this match. A great victory, which will allow him to challenge Cameron Norrie (seeded n ° 30) the next round … if his arm allows him.
Royer keeps climbing
At 24, Valentin Royer (76th) offered himself the second victory of his career in a Masters 1000. Opposed to Mariano Navone, 82nd world, the French, 76th, won the score of 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in 2:18, thus inflicting on the Argentinian a fifth affiliate defeat. The Ile-de-France had trouble in the first round (Breaks at 2-2 and 5-3) but then resumed, leading 5-1 in the second, before winning at 5-4.
In the third, Navona returned from 0-2 to 2-2, but Royer Breaké again at 2-2 and won 5-4 after saving three bales from Débreak. Assured to get the best ranking of his career, he will be entitled to a huge challenge in the second round, against Alexander Zverev.
