French Open 2022 - Cameron Norrie grinds down Jason Kubler to reach third round for second year running
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Updated 25/05/2022 at 18:08 GMT
Cameron Norrie reached the third round of the French Open for the second year running with a straight sets win over Australian Jason Kubler. The British No. 1 played a patient game in dispatching his opponent 6-3 6-4 6-3 to set up a meeting with 21st seed Karen Khachanov. Norrie comes into Roland-Garros in fine form. Stream the 2022 French Open live and on-demand on discovery+.
'He finishes him off in style' - See the moment Norrie beat Kubler
Cameron Norrie became the first British player to reach the third round of this year's French Open with a straight sets win over Australia's Jason Kubler.
The British no.1 put relentless pressure on the qualifier's serve, grinding his opponent down to win 6-3 6-4 6-3 and setting up a meeting with Russian 21st seed Karen Khachanov next.
Norrie was looking to reach the third round at Roland-Garros for a second time, and he was full of confidence after his title win at the Lyon Open at the weekend.
The world no.11 got off to a shaky start against the Australian, saving two break points in the third game to stay on serve. Norrie began to settle into the match and he rattled off four straight points to come from 40-15 down in the sixth game, breaking Kubler’s serve to go 4-2 up.
Norrie did not let his opponent back into the set and saw it off 6-3, and he maintained that momentum early in the second set. Straight away, he was out in front, making use of one break point to go up an advantage, before consolidating that break to love.
The 10th seed was piling on the pressure now, and after missing two break points he forced Kubler to take 12 minutes just to hold on to his next service game. Against the run of play, Norrie dropped serve in the fourth game - but he forced an error in the ninth game to go a break up and served out for a two-set lead.
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Norrie appeared to be in complete control but a drop of serve in the second game forced him to re-focus. He was again giving Kubler no easy service game and after 12 minutes of relentless pressure, and having seen five break-back points come and go, he finally got back on terms.
That proved to be the final bit of resistance from the Australian, as Norrie broke far more convincingly to 15 in the seventh game - meaning all he needed to do was hold serve twice to see out victory. He only needed one, breaking once again to seal his place in the next round.
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Highlights: Britain's Norrie beats Kubler to progress at French Open
Norrie’s win sets up a clash with Khachanov in the third round. The Brit will head into the match as the favourite, and that pressure does not faze him.
“It's always nice going into the match being the underdog and go out and play free,” Norrie said. “If you lose, it's all right. But for the most part, in the last couple years I have done well being the favourite. It's a different kind of pressure.
“But, no, I'm exactly where I want to be, in the third round, and I have got matches under my belt last week and then obviously played two clean matches to be through.
“Karen plays very well here, he's super comfortable in these conditions. I think his record is very good in Roland Garros. I think he's made fourth round or quarters here before, so he's got a lot of experience.
“He's been top 10 and he's playing well. So it's going to be tricky, but I'm looking forward to the challenge. Yeah, nice not to face Rafa (smiling).”
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