Cameron Norrie, US Open 2017
Photo by Mike Frey/BPI/REX/Shutterstock | Cameron Norrie, US Open 2017

ATP Vienna 2018 | Cameron Norrie earns second chance as Lucky Loser in Vienna but draws No. 4 seed John Isner

By Ros Satar

  • Cameron Norrie [LL] v John Isner [4]
  • H2H: Norrie leads 1-0
VIENNA, AUSTRIA – Given a Lucky Loser lifeline, Cameron Norrie might well want to deliver another shock to John Isner in his main draw opener.

 

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Cameron Norrie [LL] v John Isner [4] | H2H: Norrie leads 1-0

With the success in the Antwerp final for British No. 1 Kyle Edmund, can the British No. 2 Cameron Norrie deliver another defeat to the No. 4 seed John Isner? Norrie grabbed a place in the draw as a lucky loser, and with the knowledge of a win over the big serving American already this year, he must surely fancy his chances over the new father?

ohn Isner, Western & Southern Open, ATP Cincinnati Masters 1000 2017
Photo by TANNEN MAURY/EPA/REX/Shutterstock | John Isner, Western & Southern Open, ATP Cincinnati Masters 1000 2017

Isner joined the fun and frolics at the Laver Cup after becoming a father for the first time, before taking off the entire Asian swing to spend time with his new daughter. His comeback to the tour was pretty solid with a run to the Stockholm semi-final, and of course he will start as the favourite.

However, success sometimes begets success, and Norrie has been putting in the hard yards over the Asian swing, with the highlight being the Shenzhen quarter-final. He only narrowly lost out in the final round of qualifying and has solid match-time on the Vienna courts.

 

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Isner’s game revolves around that serve, and perhaps in their first encounter on clay (ironically a surface that Isner seems to enjoy) it was nullified giving Norrie a chance to get on the end of returns and get into points.

The key for Norrie, who can do a little bit of everything, is to keep Isner on the move. He might favour his backhand, but he has worked a lot on his forehand, but his own serve is functional and not necessarily a weapon in its own right. Trying to get behind the lanky American is key and here is where his familiarity with the courts in Vienna might count in his favour, but it is a tough ask at the end of a long, breakthrough season for the Brit.

Prediction: Isner in three sets.

 

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