By Tony Fairbairn
- Cameron Norrie [10] def Tung-Lin Wu [Q] 6-2 6-4
- Norrie v Taro Daniel [Q] | H2H: Daniel leads 1-0
INDIAN WELLS, USA – Cameron Norrie is into the third round at Indian Wells after a straight sets win over Tung-Lin Wu and next for Norrie is Taro Daniel.
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Cameron Norrie [10] def Tung-Lin Wu [Q] 6-2 6-4
Cameron Norrie cruised into the third round at Indian Wells after a straight sets victory over Tung-Lin Wu. The Brit applied the pressure from the first game as he capitalised on a flurry of errors from Wu on his serve. After saving two break points in the opening game to hold, Wu eventually conceded the break as Norrie was on form.
After establishing a 2-1 lead, Norrie continued to dictate play comfortably from the baseline and was just as clinical on serve as he was on return. Another crushing return game saw Norrie take the double break lead and a 4-1 lead as Wu had no answer to the Brit’s aggression. Wu did manage to take a confidence boosting hold of serve in the seventh game but ultimately Norrie cruised to the opening set, sealing the set to love.
In the second set, Wu showed exactly what he is capable of as he produced some clean hitting to gain a comfortable pair of service hold. The world number 175 also showed some of his returning quality as he created break point in the fourth game with Norrie struggling to find consistency on serve.
Eventually though Norrie found some rhythm on return after grinding to a hold of serve as he elevated his game to the next level. The world number 12 secured two consecutive breaks of serve, losing just one point as he cruised to a 5-2 lead. Wu’s grit and determination was rewarded towards the end of the set as Norrie failed to close out the match and the qualifier secured one of the breaks back in the eighth game.
However it was Norrie who secured a spot in the third round as he closed the match out to love as he began his bid for a second Indian Wells title with a straight sets victory.
Cameron Norrie [10] v Taro Daniel [Q] H2H & Match Fundamentals
| Cameron Norrie [10] v Taro Daniel [Q] | H2H: Daniel leads 1-0 |
| Indian Wells 2023 | Indian Wells, USA |
| Hard (O) | Prize Money: $55,770 |
| First on Stadium 3 at 11pm (6pm GMT) | Amazon Prime Video <– Sign up for trial |
Norrie will now take on in-form qualifier Taro Daniel for a place in the fourth round after he beat Matteo Berrettini.
Tale of the Tape – Key Stats (2023)
| H2H: | Cameron Norrie (WR 12) | Taro Daniel (WR 103) |
| Tournament Previous Best | Champion (2021) | R3 (2018) |
| 1st Serve % | 64.5 | 62.9 |
| Service Games Won % | 80.5 | 81.4 |
| Break Points Saved % | 60.2 | 54.9 |
| 2nd Serve Return Points Won % | 54.6 | 52.4 |
| Break Points Converted % | 38 | 43.8 |
Norrie will need to be wary of Daniel’s efficient and accurate returning heading into this match as the Brit looks to continue to be aggressive from the baseline.
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Playing Styles and Prediction
After a slow start to the season, Daniel has had a great couple of weeks and a win over Casper Ruud in Acapulco last week has definitely boosted his confidence, seeing him qualify for Indian Wells. The Japanese star has a consistent baseline game, with dynamic agility and a quality return and now Daniel looks to climb inside the world’s top 100 with a deep run in California.
Norrie will look to serve aggressively in order to neutralise the return of Daniel as well as push the qualifier as far back behind the baseline as possible. On the other hand Daniel will look to mix up the angles and direction of rallies as he looks to expose weaknesses in the Brit’s game to hit winners. This will be a gruelling match with long rallies but as long as Norrie can remain proactive and aggressive then he should win this match with conditions suiting him more in California.
Prediction: Norrie in three sets.
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