De Minaur breezes into third round at Wimbledon after losing first set
Cazaux played at a high level in patches, but was unable to maintain it when de Minaur went up a notch, most critically in the match-defining ninth game of the third set.
The 22-year-old Frenchman recovered well from a lopsided second set, where the Australian star largely steamrolled him, to lead 4-3 in the third and threaten to mount a major challenge.
A tense struggle ensued on Cazaux's next service game, with de Minaur coming out on top in a captivating rally despite his French foe's wonderful defence to bring up a break point, only for Cazaux to send down an ace and temporarily stave off the danger.
Cazaux failed to convert his own game point soon after, then collapsed on consecutive points that effectively decided the contest.
He dumped a straightforward forehand volley into the net to face another break point, then double-faulted at the worst time – missing by about a metre – to gift de Minaur the chance to serve out the third set. Australia's No.1 was locked in by that stage, and drilled an inside-out forehand winner to charge two-sets-to-one ahead.
By then, de Minaur had already absorbed Cazaux's best punch, and breezed to the finish line without conceding another game.
For all his waywardness in the opening set, de Minaur should be satisfied that his tennis is moving in the right direction after an underwhelming period where he admitted he struggled with mental fatigue and had to shift his focus from being so rankings-obsessed.
The 26-year-old awaits the winner between 21st-seeded Czech Tomas Machac – whom de Minaur beat in three sets at the Monte-Carlo Masters on clay in April – and Danish qualifier August Holmgren, who is contesting his maiden grand slam at age 27.
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Three more Australians will try to join de Minaur and Jordan Thompson on Thursday in the round of 32 at the grasscourt major.
Rinky Hijikata takes on 10th-seeded American Ben Shelton, while Aleks Vukic will step onto Wimbledon's fabled centre court to face world No.1 Jannik Sinner. Daria Kasatkina, the No.16 seed in the women's draw, rounds out the Australian contingent on court three against Irina-Camelia Begu.
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