- By Jonathan Jurejko
- ` Sport at Melbourne Park
January 18, 2024, 06:05 GMT
Updated 19 minutes ago
image source, Getty Images
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Cameron Norrie is in the third round of the Australian Open for the third time – but has never made it past this stage
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Venue: Melbourne Park. Dates: 14th – 28th January |
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Coverage: Tennis Breakfast commentary daily from 07:00 GMT on Radio 5 Sports Extra and ` Sounds, with selected live text commentary and match reports on the ` Sport website and app |
Britain's Cameron Norrie reached the third round of the Australian Open by fighting back to win a five-set match for the first time in Melbourne.
The 19th-seeded Norrie was two sets down against Italian qualifier Guilio Zeppieri but recovered to win 3-6, 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, 6-4, 6-4.
The 28-year-old will face No. 11 seed Casper Ruud in the third round.
However, their compatriots Katie Boulter and Jack Draper lost their games in the second round.
Boulter, the British women's number one, lost 6-3, 6-3 to 12th seed Zheng Qinwen of China.
After Zheng controlled the first set, Boulter broke serve to make it 3-2 in the second set, but double-faulted twice in the next game in blustery conditions as she gave up the advantage.
The match was then decided in a marathon ninth game when Zheng saved her sixth match point after saving six Boulter break points.
The 22-year-old British number four Draper lost 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 to American number 14 Tommy Paul.
Rain, wind, injuries and an inspired opponent – Norrie survives the test
Norrie, who never made it past the third round in Melbourne, ensured the British contingent got off to a winning start as he defeated a keen opponent in testing conditions.
After losing to 22-year-old Zeppieri in their only meeting on Rome's clay court four years ago, Norrie said he would have an element of revenge on his mind.
And the tenacity of his comeback — a three-hour game that stretched to nearly six hours because of two rain delays — suggested that motivation.
The left-handed Zeppieri's powerful game, consisting of a heavy serve and sizzling forehands, caused Norrie a lot of problems in the first two sets.
Norrie also required treatment on his right knee and occasionally bent his left wrist, which worried him before the event, while a stiff breeze also caused problems for both players.
Still, he started the third set with determination, breaking the first game and finishing it between rain delays.
Another early break was enough to secure the fourth set and with his greater experience Norrie won three games in a row to secure the deciding set.
Draper is eliminated while Paul seeks revenge
Draper is one of the ATP Tour's rising stars and as he continues to climb the rankings after injury problems, he was a dangerous draw for 2023 semi-finalist Paul.
The powerful left-hander defeated the American last week on his way to the Adelaide final but admitted it would be a different test to the five-set format.
After going the distance to win against Marcos Giron on Tuesday – where he lay ill in a box on the sidelines after the win – Draper got off to a slow start, losing his serve three times in the opening set.
Nevertheless, he improved and had chances in the fourth set to push an entertaining battle to the end.
At 5-4, Draper was unable to convert either set point – he missed a crosscourt forehand before Paul fired an irreversible first serve at 122mph – and Paul finally did it in 12 minutes Serve over the finish line.
This created the platform for Paul to use the momentum and break in the next game.
After saving a break point, a loose forehand from Draper went wide and Paul took his opportunity to end the game.
After her singles defeat, Boulter returned to the court in the women's doubles alongside Petra Martic, but the pair lost their first round match against fifth seeds Laura Siegemund and Barbora Krejcikova 6-2 and 6-1.
In the men's doubles, Britain's Henry Patten, who played with Portugal's Francisco Cabral, defeated Australian pair Tristan Schoolkate and Adam Walton 6:3, 6:7 (6:8), 7:6 (10:4).
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