Cameron Norrie beats Casper Ruud in near-flawless display to reach Australian Open last 16 for first time
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ByEurosport
Updated 20/01/2024 at 09:41 GMT
Cameron Norrie produced a brilliant performance as he beat world No. 11 Casper Ruud 6-4 6-7(7) 6-4 6-3 to progress to the last 16 of the Australian Open for the first time in his career. Norrie will face either Alexander Zverev or Alex Michelsen next after coming out on top in a match that was marked by high-quality play. Norrie came up big in the crucial moments.
'Magnificent' - Norrie breaks Ruud in crucial fourth set of clash
Cameron Norrie will contest the last 16 of the Australian Open for the first time in his career after he beat Casper Ruud 6-4 6-7(7) 6-4 6-3 on the John Cain Arena.
The Brit had only taken one set off Ruud in their previous three matches but produced a near-flawless performance, dominating in the key moments to progress to the last 16 of the Australian Open for the first time in his career.
The win is only the second time Norrie has beaten a top 20 player in a Grand Slam – the first came at the first-round stage of the US Open in 2020, where he beat Diego Schwartzman.
Next up for Norrie is either Alexander Zverev or Alex Michelsen, with a potential quarter-final showdown with Carlos Alcaraz as the reward for the victor.
“I had to play really brave,” said Norrie.
“I almost won that second set but Casper played well. I did not let it bother me. It was a good mental performance to come out with a lot of energy in the third set. I just kept to a really good level during the match and I stuck to my gameplan and I got through.
Norrie hit 62 winners and won 41 points at the net in a hugely impressive, front-foot performance and said afterwards that he has been working on becoming more aggressive.
"I've been working hard in the off season to be a little more aggressive and managed to do that," Norrie added.
In a first set of brutal efficiency, the No. 19 seed took the only break point he fashioned before defending five – including one as he served for the match – to take the initiative.
Given his own level of performance, Ruud will have counted himself unfortunate to be trailing.
Norrie continued to excel in the big moments at the start of the next, defending three break points at 0-40 in the fourth game of the second set to keep it on serve. However, the Brit passed up a set point in the tie-break and when Rudd fashioned an opportunity to level, he took it.
It looked like the initiative had been completely re-set when Ruud broke in the fifth game of the third but Norrie immediately put it back on serve. And then – to follow a theme of the match – he came out on top another crucial moment, winning the resultant tie-break to put himself one set away from the last 16 of the Australian Open for the first time in his career.
The world No. 11 looked the more jaded of the two as the match entered its fourth set and Norrie secured a decisive break in the fourth game.
Next up for the Brit is a potential showdown against sixth seed Zverev or rising American star Alex Michelsen – and he will enter that match with high confidence after a near-flawless display.
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