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Cameron Norrie in the first round of the BNP Paribas Open, ATP Indian Wells 2018
Photo by MIKE NELSON/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock | Cameron Norrie in the first round of the BNP Paribas Open, ATP Indian Wells 2018

Cameron Norrie through to face experienced Lopez after Los Cabos first round win

Jake Davies
Tennis

By Jake Davies

  • Cameron Norrie defeats Prajnesh Gunneswaran [Q] 6-2 6-2
  • Cameron Norrie vs Feliciano Lopez [8]
LOS CABOS, MEXICO – Cameron Norrie continued on his path of success as he triumphed in his opening round match in Los Cabos, beating India’s Prajnesh Gunneswaran in straight sets.

 

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Cameron Norrie def. Prajnesh Gunneswaran [Q] 6-2 6-2

This was Cameron Norrie’s fourth win in five matches after being stopped in the semi-final stage of Atlanta last week to Ryan Harrison, but the British No.2 seemed to have taken a lot of confidence from that week in particular.

Norrie settled into the match almost immediately by breaking in the opening game of the match and it quickly became a battle of the forehands. Both possessing impactful lefty forehand wings, but it was Norrie that was able to really move his opponent around the court that much more with that single shot and that was through the loopy angles he could create.

Norrie broke for a second time in the fifth game of the opening set and sealed the set without facing a single break point. The Brit was able to be the more domineering player on the first serve, but also got the best out of his tricky game in difficult conditions.

Gunneswaran did cause Norrie a few problems at times, none one more than in the sixth game of the 2nd set, where the Indian held three break points, but Norrie responded each and every time with a big serve and with positive, expansive tennis to maintain the break lead. Those proved to be the only break points that the Indian could create as Norrie charged home to a resounding victory in his first match in Mexico.

 

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Cameron Norrie vs Feliciano Lopez [8] H2H: First meeting

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Next up for Norrie is former Top-15 player Feliciano Lopez. This is another step up for the Brit. Lopez is simply one of the trickiest players on the tour. He has bags of experience, has reached the latter stages of Grand Slams and has the versatility to his game that makes him a tough match-up for most players.

The Spaniard has the variety to transition into the forecourt in spells, but he also has a solid baseline game, too, and it is that unpredictability that makes him a tough opponent, because he has two or three different game plans.

As troublesome as Lopez’s game can be, Norrie will know that there are things that he can do himself to make Lopez feel uncomfortable and to get under his skin, so the Brit really has to use the momentum he has put together in the last week to give it his best shot at causing the upset.

Prediction: Lopez in straight sets