Cameron Norrie in the quarter-final of the 2021 Delray Beach Open, USA
DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA - JANUARY 11: Cameron Norrie of Great Britain returns the shot to Frances Tiafoe of the United States during the Quarterfinals of the Delray Beach Open by Vitacost.com at Delray Beach Tennis Center on January 11, 2021 in Delray Beach, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)

Tennis | ATP Delray Beach | Norrie to face Korda for second ATP Tour final spot

  • Cameron Norrie def. Frances Tiafoe 6-0, 3-6, 6-4
  • Faces Sebastian Korda next
DELRAY BEACH, USA – Cameron Norrie continued his good run of form, coming through in the evening match against Frances Tiafoe, and sets up a semi-final clash with Sebastian Korda.

 

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Cameron Norrie def. Frances Tiafoe 6-0, 3-6, 6-4

Cameron Norrie’s decision not to pull out of the season opener in Delray Beach has really paid off for the British No. 3. Dan Evans and Andy Murray were both on the entry list, the latter having been awarded a wildcard that he later handed back, with both preferring to lessen their risks of contracting COVID-19 and head to straight to Australia.

Meanwhile Norrie was the sole male Brit in tour action and is still going taking just shy of two and a quarter-hours to dispatch the No. 8 seed Frances Tiafoe. The first set was a dream for the leftie Brit who denied Tiafoe any chance getting on the board. Tiafoe won just one point on Norrie’s serve in the first set.

The American rallied to make the second set more in his terms, breaking Norrie before the first change of ends, and although Norrie pegged him back, Tiafoe finished the second set with a flourish, breaking Norrie and having to fend off a couple of break back points before levelling things up.

The final set was far cagier and Tiafoe looked to be the one pressuring more, with seven chances to break Norrie for the advantage, but was unable to get over the line, with Norrie breaking on his fourth match point to take the match.

As reported by ATPour.com, Norrie said: “Credit to Frances. He fought real hard and I managed to get a little bit lucky in the third set there with a couple netcords and a couple close calls. I started the match great and then he came back firing straight away in the second set and then I just managed to hold onto my serve and tough out those games. Then he played a little bit tentative towards the end. Real fortunate to get through.”

 

 

Norrie v Sebastian Korda | First meeting

It is difficult to say who has the more momentum coming into this encounter. Both have had very good wins this week over seeds and have thrived in the season opener. Much like a lot of the young Americans Sebastian Korda, the son of Petr Korda, plays quick-strike tennis with a solid serve and looks to hustle the points.

For a big guy, his movement is good, and will look to get lots of free points off his serve and his aggressive style of play.

 

Tale of the Tape – Key Stats (2020, Hard)

H2H: First Meeting Norrie (79) Korda (119)
1st Serve % 65 72
Service Games Won % 75 77
Break Points Saved % 61 60
2nd Serve Return Points Won % 48 42
Break Points Converted % 42 50

 

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Norrie cannot expect to overpower Korda in the same way with his own serve and will need to be a touch more canny. He is a more patient player and he outlasted Adrian Mannarino in the rallies, building up the point, and he will need to get return games on his terms. The pair are equally matched on holding on to their own serves and getting out of tricky situations on their own serves.

His best hope will be to try and get more of a nibble on any second serves that Korda might prefer to play a little safer on to get things on his terms. Korda can move well but we would say that Norrie is perhaps a little sharper around the court and will try to look to come in where he can.

This could be another tough one, if he wants to start the year with a final berth, and hopefully experience will stand him in good stead having been here before, reaching the final in Auckland (2019).

Prediction: Norrie in three sets.

 

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