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 Rotterdam 2022 | Norrie earns first win of season over Humbert to set up Khachanov clash

  • Cameron Norrie [6] def Ugo Humbert 6-2 6-4
  • Norrie v Karen Khachanov | H2H: Tied at 2-2
ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – Cameron Norrie finally won his first match of the 2022 season after beating Ugo Humbert in straight sets in Rotterdam with Karen Khachanov awaiting in round two.

 

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Cameron Norrie [6] def Ugo Humbert 6-2 6-4

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Cameron Norrie earned his first win of the season with a straight sets win over Ugo Humbert in Rotterdam. Entering this match, Norrie was out of form and was waiting for his season to kickstart but showed no signs of that in the early exchanges as he produced aggressive tennis.

Humbert was looking to finish off points quickly at the net but was made to pay for that tactic as Norrie passed him on numerous occasions as he gained a quick double break lead for a 4-0 lead. The Frenchman gradually played his way into the match as it looked like he was the player who hadn’t won a match this season. However Norrie overcame late resilience from the Frenchman to comfortably take the opening set 6-2.

In the second set there was much more purposeful aggression from Humbert as he took advantage of some passive Norrie play in the early stages. After being broken in the fourth game and trailing 4-1 at the change of ends, the Brit relied on the qualities that earned him a career high ranking last season and that was his ability to problem solve.

Norrie turned defence into attack and rallied to win five games in a row as he sealed five games in a row to seal his place in the second round and a much-needed win as he looks to find confidence this week in Holland.

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Cameron Norrie [6] v Karen Khachanov H2H & Match Fundamentals

Cameron Norrie [6] v Karen Khachanov

H2H: Tied at 2-2

ATP Rotterdam Β 

Rotterdam, Netherlands Β 

Indoor Hard

Prize Money: €24,745

6th on Center Court (20:00 GMT)

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After an opening win of the season, Norrie will look to build on the momentum when he takes on Karen Khachanov.

 

Tale of the Tape – Key Stats (2021 – Hard)

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H2H:

Cameron Norrie (WR 13)

Karen Khachanov (WR 28)

Tournament Previous Best

R2 (2021)

QF (2021)

1st Serve %

65.3

61.5

Service Games Won %

79

86.2

Break Points Saved %

58.1

73.4

2nd Serve Return Points Won %

52.7

51.2

Break Points Converted %

45.1

38.5

Norrie’s return and clinical conversion rate takes on Khachanov’s serve and his ability to be clutch in the big moments.

 

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Playing Styles and Prediction

Khachanov has started the season in valiant fashion having tested eventual champion Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open. The Russian’s big serve and forehand will look to cause more problems in Rotterdam as he looks for a big run at an ATP event.

The Brit may favour the slightly slower conditions in Holland and will look to be aggressive especially when targeting Khachanov’s backhand. First serve percentage is going to be key for both players as they rely on their service games to dictate the tempo of matches with their second serves being a vulnerability. Should Norrie play like he did against Humbert than it should be another win for the Brit although that will depend on what version of him and Khachanov turn up.

Prediction: Norrie in three sets. Β 

 

 

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