Cameron Norrie Archives - SportBlogg

Norrie knocked out in Barcelona as ‘aggressive’ Etcheverry steps up in tie-breaks

Cameron Norrie was beaten in the Barcelona Open quarter-finals as Tomas Martin Etcheverry advanced to the last four.

World No. 30 Etcheverry – placed just one position above Norrie in the ATP rankings – needed two tie-breaks in a hard-fought 7-6(4) 7-6(1) victory.

After the match, Etcheverry said he had planned to play “aggressively” against Norrie.

“I spoke to my coach last night and also my team, that I have to play aggressively to win this match,” the 24-year-old revealed after one of the biggest wins of his career.

“I played [Norrie] last year and it was a tough match, we played three hours [then] like today.

“The tie-break was key, I played really good in that part of the match.”

After coming through a gritty three-set battle with Brandon Nakashima in the last 16, Etcheverry got off to the perfect start to break the British No. 1 in the opening game.

Norrie broke back midway through the first set to draw level as the pair engaged in a tightly fought encounter.

A breaker was required to settle the opener, which Etcheverry edged after gaining two set points to eventually seal it 7-4.

Etcheverry came close to what would have likely been a decisive break in the eighth game of the second set, but Norrie fought him off with a wonderful forehand to hold.

The Argentine regained his lead to move within one game of victory, but Norrie served well to stay in the match.

The duo could not be separated as they entered another tie-break, but it was Etcheverry who was dialled in and breezed through the final test to move into the semi-finals.

Etcheverry will face either world No. 6 Casper Ruud or Italian Matteo Arnaldi for a spot in this year’s final.

Over in Munich at the Bavarian International, Jack Draper was handed a quarter-final defeat by world No. 15 Taylor Fritz, who came from behind to win 4-6 6-3 7-6(1).

Draper started the match in dominant fashion, setting the tone when he broke the American in the opening game and then earning four break point opportunities in the fifth game – but failed to convert them.

Although Draper managed to serve things out and take the opening set, Fritz fought back from 40-0 in the fourth game of the second set to break back, which is where the momentum began to shift.

And Fritz was too strong for Draper in a tight decider, which he eventually won with an impressive tie-break showing.

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Norrie knocked out in Barcelona as ‘aggressive’ Etcheverry steps up in tie-breaks

Cameron Norrie was beaten in the Barcelona Open quarter-finals as Tomas Martin Etcheverry advanced to the last four.

World No. 30 Etcheverry – placed just one position above Norrie in the ATP rankings – needed two tie-breaks in a hard-fought 7-6(4) 7-6(1) victory.

After the match, Etcheverry said he had planned to play “aggressively” against Norrie.

“I spoke to my coach last night and also my team, that I have to play aggressively to win this match,” the 24-year-old revealed after one of the biggest wins of his career.

“I played [Norrie] last year and it was a tough match, we played three hours [then] like today.

“The tie-break was key, I played really good in that part of the match.”

After coming through a gritty three-set battle with Brandon Nakashima in the last 16, Etcheverry got off to the perfect start to break the British No. 1 in the opening game.

Norrie broke back midway through the first set to draw level as the pair engaged in a tightly fought encounter.

A breaker was required to settle the opener, which Etcheverry edged after gaining two set points to eventually seal it 7-4.

Etcheverry came close to what would have likely been a decisive break in the eighth game of the second set, but Norrie fought him off with a wonderful forehand to hold.

The Argentine regained his lead to move within one game of victory, but Norrie served well to stay in the match.

The duo could not be separated as they entered another tie-break, but it was Etcheverry who was dialled in and breezed through the final test to move into the semi-finals.

Etcheverry will face either world No. 6 Casper Ruud or Italian Matteo Arnaldi for a spot in this year’s final.

Over in Munich at the Bavarian International, Jack Draper was handed a quarter-final defeat by world No. 15 Taylor Fritz, who came from behind to win 4-6 6-3 7-6(1).

Draper started the match in dominant fashion, setting the tone when he broke the American in the opening game and then earning four break point opportunities in the fifth game – but failed to convert them.

Although Draper managed to serve things out and take the opening set, Fritz fought back from 40-0 in the fourth game of the second set to break back, which is where the momentum began to shift.

And Fritz was too strong for Draper in a tight decider, which he eventually won with an impressive tie-break showing.

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Norrie earns 200th ATP Tour win and to reach quarter-finals with Bautista Agut victory

Cameron Norrie powered into the Barcelona Open quarter-finals with a 6-4 6-3 victory against home favourite Roberto Bautista Agut.

The victory gave the British No. 1 his 200th career win on the ATP Tour and kept him on track for a sixth ATP title.

It looked as if the encounter between Norrie and Bautista Agut would be closely contested after they played out a fascinating 26-shot rally at 1-1.

But Norrie did not look back after he eventually hit the winner to break Bautista Agut and take a 2-1 lead.

The Barcelona Open’s 12th seed broke his opponent again in the seventh game, before holding to gain a 5-3 advantage.

Although Bautista Agut crept back into the encounter by winning the next game, Norrie successfully served out the set.

He then earned break points in the first, third and ninth games of the second set to wrap up the victory in one hour and 24 minutes.

“I think on the score it was easy, but there were a lot of tough points in there,” Norrie told Sky Sports.

“I was really pleased with how I handled myself when serving for the first set. I had a couple of tough games at the end of the second set there and played a good game to break as well.

“So I was very, very solid and I converted the points when I was aggressive. I felt like I was moving well, and I was pleased with my footwork.”

Norrie revealed he was not aware he had just won his 200th match on the ATP Tour, but said reaching the milestone made him feel “very good.”

“I didn’t actually know that. I know that yesterday Roberto [Bautista Agut] got 400. So I’m halfway to his. To get 400 wins is impressive.

“I didn’t know that, but I’ll take that 200th win against a top player.”

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Norrie earns 200th ATP Tour win and to reach quarter-finals with Bautista Agut victory

Cameron Norrie powered into the Barcelona Open quarter-finals with a 6-4 6-3 victory against home favourite Roberto Bautista Agut.

The victory gave the British No. 1 his 200th career win on the ATP Tour and kept him on track for a sixth ATP title.

It looked as if the encounter between Norrie and Bautista Agut would be closely contested after they played out a fascinating 26-shot rally at 1-1.

But Norrie did not look back after he eventually hit the winner to break Bautista Agut and take a 2-1 lead.

The Barcelona Open’s 12th seed broke his opponent again in the seventh game, before holding to gain a 5-3 advantage.

Although Bautista Agut crept back into the encounter by winning the next game, Norrie successfully served out the set.

He then earned break points in the first, third and ninth games of the second set to wrap up the victory in one hour and 24 minutes.

“I think on the score it was easy, but there were a lot of tough points in there,” Norrie told Sky Sports.

“I was really pleased with how I handled myself when serving for the first set. I had a couple of tough games at the end of the second set there and played a good game to break as well.

“So I was very, very solid and I converted the points when I was aggressive. I felt like I was moving well, and I was pleased with my footwork.”

Norrie revealed he was not aware he had just won his 200th match on the ATP Tour, but said reaching the milestone made him feel “very good.”

“I didn’t actually know that. I know that yesterday Roberto [Bautista Agut] got 400. So I’m halfway to his. To get 400 wins is impressive.

“I didn’t know that, but I’ll take that 200th win against a top player.”

Stream top tennis action, including the 2024 French Open, live on discovery+.

Khachanov ousts ‘tough competitor’ Norrie to leave Draper last Brit standing in Monte Carlo

Cameron Norrie’s hopes of a deep run at the Monte Carlo Masters are over after a straight-sets defeat to Karen Khachanov.

The Brit was not without his chances in a tight first-round match that lasted in excess of two-and-a-half hours, but was eventually beaten 7-5 7-6(3).

He was left particularly frustrated at failing to serve out the second set at 6-5, when the Russian raised his game as he went on a winning streak of 10 points out of 11.

That paved the way for a stunning tie-break from Khachanov, dropping only three points as he secured victory.

“I’m really happy and proud with the way I was handling the tough moments, the pressure moments,” he said.

“It was a really tough match, especially for the first round. Cameron dropped a little bit [in] ranking, but he’s always there. He’s always a tough competitor.”

A topsy-turvy opening set saw Norrie break serve in only the second game of the contest when Khachanov sent a backhand flying wide.

The advantage did not last long though, with parity restored in the very next game when the Brit fired a vicious forehand long.

Norrie continued to play with aggression, attacking points at the net often, but the Russian showed great resilience from the baseline to save two break points and ensure scores were level at 3-3.

He would then make his opponent pay for those missed opportunities when breaking to 15, giving him a chance to serve for the set, only to hand the advantage straight back to the Brit with an error-strewn game of his own.

That made it 5-5, but Norrie was broken for a third time in the set, again to 15 and not helped by three unforced errors, to hand Khachanov an advantage that he would this time make the most of, sealing the set 7-5 with an ace.

The second set threatened to go the same way when Norrie was immediately broken after a marathon game, only to level at 1-1 straight away.

Both players were clearly struggling with their first-serve percentage, but managed to hold without too much alarm over the next few games.

The fact the Brit was serving first piled the pressure on Khachanov as the set reached its conclusion though, and after holding for 4-3, Norrie earned two break points in the next game, taking the second after some fierce hitting off both wings.

He soon cast a frustrated figure though as some erratic hitting led to the Russian breaking straight back, with the game summed up by the closing point, a wild mid-court forehand that flew out.

Khachanov then held to love to level at 5-5, but Norrie composed himself to make it 6-5, and, thanks to some excellent use of the drop shot, he looked set to take the set when forcing two break points.

His opponent had other ideas though, cracking down four winners – including two aces – to send the set to a tie-break.

That gave the Russian the momentum, and he subsequently reeled off point after point en route to taking the tie-break 7-3, sealing the match with another ace and booking a second-round meeting with Francisco Cerundolo in the process.

Norrie’s departure, meanwhile, leaves Jack Draper as the last Brit standing in Monte Carlo, following Dan Evans’ defeat to Sebastian Ofner earlier on Monday.

Draper plays Estoril champion and 10th seed Hubert Hurkacz on Tuesday.

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Great Britain face Argentina, Canada and Finland in Davis Cup group stage

Great Britain will face Argentina, Canada and Finland in the Davis Cup Finals group stage.

The matches will take place in Manchester this September, after the AO Arena was confirmed as one of the four host venues for the event, which will run from September 10 to September 14.

The top two teams in the group will progress to the Finals in Malaga in November.

Elsewhere, defending champions Italy will go up against Brazil, the Netherlands and Belgium on home soil in Bologna, while Zhuhai in China will host Germany, the USA, Chile and Slovakia.

In Valencia, Spain have been drawn alongside Australia, France and the Czech Republic.

There could well be some logistical problems for all the players and countries involved, as matches are due to start just days after the US Open finishes in New York.

The likes of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, who played a pivotal role in guiding Italy to the title last year, might therefore have some big decisions to make if they have a deep run at Flushing Meadows.

Great Britain, meanwhile, will be attempting to reach the final stage of the Davis Cup for the second year running.

Leon Smith was also at the helm when they won an emotional final against Belgium in 2015.

Team GB still have a formidable bunch of highly ranked male players though, including Cameron Norrie, Jack Draper and Dan Evans, while doubles stars Neal Skupski and Joe Salisbury are both Grand Slam winners.

Murray secures first round win over Goffin at Indian Wells

Canada on the other hand currently only have one man, Felix Auger-Aliassime, in the singles top 100, as do Finland, in the form of Emil Ruusuvuori.

That means their toughest assignment is likely to come against Argentina, who could be led by recent Chile Open champion Sebastian Baez, 19th in the world and one of seven players inside the top 100.

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