Cameron Norrie in the semi-final of the 2022 Delray Breah Open, Florida, USA
Cameron Norrie in the semi-final of the 2022 Delray Breah Open, Florida, USA | (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)

Tennis | ATP Auckland 2023 | Norrie edges past Giron to set Brooksby semi-final

By Tony Fairbairn

  • Cameron Norrie [2] def Marcos Giron 6-1 6-7(2) 6-2
  • Norrie v Jenson Brooksby | H2H: Norrie leads 1-0
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – Cameron Norrie edged past Marcos Giron to reach his first semi-final of the season in Auckland and will now face Jenson Brooksby for a place in the final.

 

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Cameron Norrie [2] def Marcos Giron 6-1 6-7(2) 6-2

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Cameron Norrie is into his first ATP semi-final of the season after edging past Marcos Giron in Auckland. Norrie dominated the opening set as he found his range from the baseline early on, forcing the errors from the erratic American. Norrie’s aggression saw him hit nine winners as he was simply too good for Giron in the opening set, converting all three break points as he took the opening set 6-1.

The world number 60 needed to do something in the second set to disrupt Norrie’s rhythm and the American was much more aggressive in the second set, as he would hit 14 winners. Giron converted his first break point opportunity as he broke in the opening game and gave Norrie some thinking to do. Giron attempted to get a double break lead as he had two more break points in the third game but Norrie’s defence was too resilient.

That sparked a more aggressive Norrie in the next game as he would break to level the set at 2-2 with Giron’s missed opportunities costing him. After that there was not much to separate the two players with both players serving consistently well throughout the set.

Giron’s change in approach mentally and tactically was the key difference as the second set would be decided by a tiebreak. The American would win four of the last five points in the tiebreak as he secured the second set and ensured that this match would head to a deciding set.

In the final set Norrie improved his level by one or two gears as he took an early break for a 2-1 lead with some deep returning. Giron threatened the break back as he had three opportunities to break throughout the set. However Norrie was the more clinical player and he only needed one chance to secure the double break as well as a 5-2 lead in the deciding set. Giron’s inefficiency had cost him the match as the Brit served out the win to book a spot in the last four in New Zealand.

 

Cameron Norrie [2] v Jenson Brooksby  H2H & Match Fundamentals

Cameron Norrie [2] v Jenson Brooksby H2H: Norrie leads 1-0
ATP Auckland Auckland, New Zealand
Hard (O) Prize Money: $33,525
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Norrie will face American rising star Jenson Brooksby for a place in the Auckland final.

 

Tale of the Tape – Key Stats (2022)

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H2H: Cameron Norrie (WR 12) Jenson Brooksby (WR 48)
Tournament Previous Best Final (2019) N/A
1st Serve % 66.2 65.3
Service Games Won % 81.7 75.7
Break Points Saved % 62.8 58.8
2nd Serve Return Points Won % 52.9 50.1
Break Points Converted % 44.2 44

Norrie is facing an opponent who is just as clinical on break point opportunities so it’s vital the Brit has a good serving day.

 

 

Playing Styles and Prediction

Brooksby is an athletic player with a big game as he had another consistent year last season. The American will be hoping to go deeper in bigger tournaments such as Masters 1000 events and Grand Slams as he aims for a top 30 finish this season.

Norrie will look to neutralise Brooksby’s power with angles and depth as he will need to serve well to avoid big Brooksby returns. The American will look to use his unique athleticism to counter-attack any aggressive tactics from the Brit as he looks to be clinical on break points. This will be a good test for Norrie ahead of the Australian Open and if firing on all cylinders, he should prevail in.

Prediction: Norrie in three sets.

 

 

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