By Tony Fairbairn
- Cameron Norrie [7] def Pavel Kotov [Q] 6-1 6-2
- Norrie v Lorenzo Musetti [9] | H2H: First Meeting
BARCELONA, SPAIN – Cameron Norrie produced a crushing performance to set up a third round clash with in-form Italian Lorenzo Musetti.
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Cameron Norrie [7] def Pavel Kotov [Q] 6-1 6-2
Cameron Norrie is into the third round in Barcelona after a thumping victory over qualifier Pavel Kotov. The Brit was dominant on return from the beginning as he took advantage of Kotov’s early passive play. Two breaks of serve were secured in quick fashion as unforced errors continued to mount from the qualifier, who had never faced a player with such high quality defence like Norrie has.
After the first four games, Kotov found his range on return and constructed some well-worked points as he created break point. However Norrie produced some accurate serving under pressure to take a 5-0 lead as he found more consistent shot-making from the baseline after an erratic match in Monte-Carlo.
Kotov’s work ethic was rewarded in the sixth game as he saved two break points to earn his only game of the set. In the end though Norrie completed a convincing opening set as he held to love and won the set in 36 minutes.
In the second set, as he did in the first, Norrie won the opening four games with some consistently brutal baseline tennis as he was aggressive and proactive. There wasn’t much Kotov could do as he committed more unforced errors and failed to create a single break point in the second set. Kotov managed to win two more games on serve but ultimately Norrie cruised into the last 16 as closed out the match to love.
Cameron Norrie [7] v Lorenzo Musetti [9] H2H & Match Fundamentals
| Cameron Norrie [7] v Lorenzo Musetti [9] | H2H: First Meeting |
| ATP Barcelona 2023 | Barcelona, Spain |
| Clay (O) | Prize Money: €36,365 |
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Norrie will take on Lorenzo Musetti for the first time in his career as a place in the quarter-finals is at stake.
Tale of the Tape – Key Stats (2023)
| H2H: | Cameron Norrie (WR 13) | Lorenzo Musetti (WR 20) |
| Tournament Previous Best | QF (2021, 2022) | R3 (2022) |
| 1st Serve % | 64.4 | 59.3 |
| Service Games Won % | 78.8 | 72.7 |
| Break Points Saved % | 58.9 | 48.7 |
| 2nd Serve Return Points Won % | 53.9 | 53 |
| Break Points Converted % | 41.4 | 44.2 |
Norrie will look to be more efficient on return as Musetti’s second serve is one of the Italian’s weaknesses.
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Playing Styles and Prediction
The Italian was having a poor run of form before defeating world number one Novak Djokovic in Monte-Carlo in what was the biggest victory of his career. Now the Italian is full of confidence as he is back into the world’s top 20 and is looking to continue to have more good results on what is his best surface. Musetti’s power on the backhand can cause any player problems on its day and the Italian will look to produce similar problems against Norrie.
Norrie will look to neutralise Musetti’s backhand power through depth and good use of angles as he looks to take the match to the Italian and be aggressive. This will be an entertaining match with both players looking to dictate play from the baseline and be aggressive. In the end Norrie’s consistency may just have the edge in what is a difficult third round clash for the Brit.
Prediction: Norrie in three sets.
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