British No. 2 Cameron Norrie Defeats Andrey Rublev at Erste Bank Open
Cameron Norrie, the British No. 2, achieved a notable victory over seventh seed Andrey Rublev at the Erste Bank Open. The match took place in Austria and lasted two hours, with Norrie winning 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2.
Cameron Norrie’s Performance
Norrie, currently ranked 35th in the world, began the match strongly. He won the first set convincingly in just 34 minutes. The 30-year-old British player led 2-0 in the second set after breaking Rublev’s serve early on.
Despite serving for the match at 5-4, Norrie faced a challenge when Rublev broke back to force a tie-break. The Russian won the tie-break 7-5, pushing the match into a decisive third set.
Decisive Third Set
In the final set, Norrie displayed resilience and seized control. He broke Rublev’s serve in the second game, showcasing his strong performance throughout. Norrie secured another break, which allowed him to close out the match and advance to the next round.
- Match Duration: 2 hours
- Set Scores: 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2
- Next Opponent: Either Alexei Popyrin or Matteo Berrettini
After the match, Norrie reflected on his performance, stating, “It was all round a really good performance. I was moving well and able to dictate the points.” He acknowledged getting tight while serving for the win but credited Rublev for his competitive spirit.
Jacob Fearnley’s Exit
In contrast, Jacob Fearnley, the British No. 3, faced disappointment as he fell to second seed Alexander Zverev. Fearnley, ranked 81st globally, lost the first set but fought back to win the second, forcing a third-set tie-break.
Ultimately, Zverev triumphed in the tie-break, winning the match with scores of 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (7-5). He is set to compete against Italian qualifier Matteo Arnaldi in the next round.
