By Tony Fairbairn
- Albert Ramos-Vinolas def Cameron Norrie [7] 6-4 2-6 6-4
- David Goffin def Dan Evans 7-6(3) 6-2
MONTE-CARLO, MONACO – Cameron Norrie and Dan Evans both crashed out in the second round of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters as they lost to Albert Ramos-Vinolas and David Goffin respectively.
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Albert Ramos-Vinolas def Cameron Norrie [7] 6-4 2-6 6-4
Cameron Norrie’s clay court season started with a defeat as he lost to former finalist Albert Ramos-Vinolas in the second round in Monte-Carlo. Both players engaged in long rallies early on as they showed their depth, power and resilience showing why they are two experienced players on this surface. Norrie managed to be the most efficient on serve early on while Ramos-Vinolas used the drop-shot to inch perfection to outsmart the world number 10.
In the seventh game the Spaniard struck first with a range of shots that had Norrie struggling to create any pace or power with consistency. The break at 4-3 saw Ramos-Vinolas be more aggressive as he opened up the court to hit simple yet effective winners. Norrie forced the issue in the tenth game as he extended the rallies and produced some powerful returns however on his third set point, Ramos-Vinolas forced an error out of the Brit as he took the opening set in 53 minutes.
Things were not looking good for Norrie at the start of the second set either as the Spaniard was finding a lot of success on return as he continued to set the tempo for the rallies. Another break meant a lot of work had to be done for the world number 10 to get back into this match.
However Norrie refused to be beaten and produced some outstanding clay-court tennis to get back into the match. The Brit broke on three occasions and had to save five break points in the seventh game to prove too clinical for the Spaniard and force a deciding set.
The final set was a much different set with both players finding another gear to be more aggressive in their play and be effective on serve. Norrie managed to create a break point in the sixth game but was to be denied by the Spaniard who displayed his positive emotion at holding for 3-3.
That seemed to turn the tide of the match and Ramos-Vinolas pounced in the next game as his depth and power was too strong for Norrie as he broke for 4-3. The Spaniard would seal the win as Norrie blasted a forehand return into the net as Ramos-Vinolas edged into the last 16.
As for Norrie he will look to improve his form on the clay next week in Barcelona where he is the third seed.
David Goffin def Dan Evans 7-6(3) 6-2
Dan Evans didn’t fare much better in his second round match as the Brit went out in straight sets to an in-form David Goffin who won his seventh consecutive match. The opening set was a tight affair as Evans took his confidence of having a 3-0 head-to-head record against the Belgian into this contest. As expected Goffin was also in confident move having won a title in Marrakech just last week.
It was the Belgian who created the first blow on return as he really tested the Brit’s serve, creating five break points. However some clutch tennis saw Evans deny Goffin and hold for 3-3. Evans’ only break point was created in the eleventh game but Goffin’s effective patterns on serve saw him hold as the opening set went to a tiebreak.
From the on it was all about Goffin as he went through the gears, being aggressive and taking risks as he took the tiebreak 7-3. That would continue into the second set as the Belgian crafted to three breaks of serve as he in the end cruised into the last 16 to play Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
As for Evans he loses his semi-final points from last year and will go down eight places in the world rankings to 35 in the world. The Brit will now hope to build some form and look to be seeded at Roland Garros. Evans also plays Barcelona next where he is the 14th seed.
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