- Cameron Norrie def Stefan Kozlov [Q] 6-3, 6-3
- Faces No. 6 seed Fabio Fognini in the second round
- H2H: Fognini leads 1-0
ACAPULCO, MEXICO – British No. 2 Cameron Norrie eased past Stefan Kozlov and sets up a second round clash with Fabio Fognini.
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Recap: Cameron Norrie def. Stefan Kozlov 6-3, 6-3
British No. 2 Cameron Norrie put in a solid performance against qualifier Stefan Kozlov to book a match-up in the second round with Fabio Fognini.
Norrie was the first to break after the first change of ends and despite Kozlov having a couple of chances of his own to break Norrie’s serve, he couldn’t break through, leaving the Brit to serve out the first set comfortably.
The American put up more of a spirited defence in the second set. Norrie broke early again, but this time was pegged back immediately by Kozlov before breaking him twice more to take the match.
Cameron Norrie v Fabio Fognini [6] H2H & Match Fundamentals
| Cameron Norrie v Fabio Fognini [6] | H2H: Fognini leads 1-0 |
| ATP Acapulco | Acapulco, Mexico |
| Hard (O) | Prize Money: $19,925 |
| Third on Grandstand Caliente.Mx, not before 9pm
(3am GMT, Thursday) |
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Preview: Cameron Norrie v Fabio Fognini [6] | H2H: Fognini leads 1-0
You never know what you are going to get with Fognini, who plays as if he is just having a hit in the park but can be mercurially brilliant. The pair last met on the way Fognini’s way to his only hard-court title in Los Cabos.
Tale of the Tape – Key Stats (2021)
| H2H: | Cameron Norrie (WR 61) | Fabio Fognini (WR 17) |
| Tournament Previous Best | Semi-final (2019) | Semi-final (2013) |
| 1st Serve % | 65.8 | 55.4 |
| Service Games Won % | 78.7 | 80.9 |
| Break Points Saved % | 56.6 | 57.1 |
| 2nd Serve Return Points Won % | 54.3 | 47.3 |
| Break Points Converted % | 40.2 | 40.4 |
Norrie might want to take advantage of the fact that Fognini’s serve is more functional than any kind of weapon, and the pair are pretty evenly matched in terms of defending their own serve when under pressure and taking any chances to break.
Norrie has been much more effective and getting into second serves, and this could be key against Fognini.
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Playing Styles
Fognini has a laconic style of play that makes it look as though half the time he is not trying, but behind that lazy looking swing at the ball, he hides effortless precision and placement, and is quick about the court. His favoured trick of serving out wide to take advantage of a bunted return to punch out a winner might not work quite as well against the leftie Norrie and will look to play his ground-strokes firmly from the baseline.
It has been good to see Norrie charging forward to finish off his points at the net, and one could argue he moves just as well as the Italian, and the key for the Brit will be to mix things up and not allow Fognini to have his own way from the back of the court.
Prediction
When they last met, it looked like a straightforward win for Norrie, while he was on the up. Now a little more established, this will take quite some tennis from the Brit to up-end Fognini, and he will need to keep his head while all the while trying to make the Italian lose his.
This could be a lot closer than their previous encounter, but it will still be a battle for Norrie.
Prediction: Fognini in three sets.
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