Former UCLA standout Maxime Cressy is coming into his own at this year’s US Open. On Tuesday he saved four match points to defeat No. 9-seeded Pablo Carreno Busta, 5-7, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 7-6, to become the first American man to defeat a Top 10 seed at the US Open since 2016.
The World No.151, who will face Nikoloz Basilashvili in second-round action on Day 4, has won a round in all three Grand Slam main draws he's contested, but he has not done it by the usual means. Cressy is an ardent serve-and-volleyer that spends most of his time charging the net. Carving his own path on tour hasn’t been easy, but Cressy appears to be hitting his stride. He believes it is just the beginning of what he hopes will be a long successful career.
“I have lots of self-belief. I believe I can beat anyone,” Cressy told reporters after his victory over Carreno Busta. It’s something he repeats commonly in press conferences. The mindset: If you can dream it, you can do it.
Learn more about the Parisian-born Cressy before you check out his second-round match at the US Open.
He’s influenced by the greats.
Cressy says he grew up watching serve-and-volley artists like two-time US Open champion Pat Rafter, Wimbledon champ Richard Krajicek and American legend Pete Sampras. That was enough to cause Cressy to change his whole game style when he was a teenager.
"I think growing up I watched some matches of Pat Rafter and Richard Krajicek and it inspired to serve and volley,” he said. “These guys inspired me to serve and volley. Pete Sampras as well. I was a big fan of Pete Sampras, and when I was 13, 14, I had a sudden realization that I just didn't want to play baseline game, I just wanted to serve and volley all the time. I didn't have the results at first, but I did it because I enjoyed it and because my dream was to win Wimbledon. So that's how I started serving and volleying."
He serves-and-volleys—a lot!
Cressy served-and-volleyed 70 times during his five-set win over Carreno Busta on Tuesday, and he won 66% of those points (46-70).
He’s repping UCLA.
Cressy, who was a 2019 NCAA doubles champion (with Keegan Smith) and singles and doubles All-American at UCLA, joined Mackenzie McDonald and Marcos Giron in the second round, making it a Bruin trio. Cressy was actually McDonald’s roommate freshman year in Westwood. He credits UCLA coach Billy Martin for having a profound influence over his career.
“Billy Martin is a fantastic coach,” he said. “He was the one who recruited me when I was at Weil Tennis Academy when I was 17. I have lots of respect for him. I had an incredible experience at UCLA. Mackie McDonald was my roommate my freshman year in college. We had some amazing times together. He's a great friend of mine. I've had some unbelievable years at UCLA that I'll keep in my heart. It's been incredible seeing all the Bruins doing very well. Jennifer Brady, Marcos, Mackie. I'm thrilled for them, too.”
He was born in Paris, but is happier representing the US.
Now living in Hermosa Beach, Cressy says he’ll represent the U.S. for the rest of his career.
"I'm representing the U.S.," he said at Wimbledon. "I've just been living in France for the last couple of months just because of the tournament in Europe, but my home is definitely in the U.S. right now, but since the clay tournaments were in Europe I stayed in Paris a lot, but I'm representing the U.S. until the end of my career. I'm very happy representing the U.S., very happy.”
He’s a different species.
Cressy is certainly a unique brand of player. At 6-foot-7 he has a giant wingspan and he’s incredibly crafty at net. He made a very favorable impression on the US Open crowds last year when he reached the second round and played a very good match against Stefanos Tsitsipas. The Greek said there is really nobody else like Cressy on the ATP Tour.
"His game is very unorthodox to be honest with you. You don't have players like this on tour," Tsitsipas said. "He's a rare species of a tennis player, that's what he is."
