- Cameron Norrie def. Taylor Fritz [8] 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
- Stan Wawrinka [5) def. Dan Evans 3-6, 7-6(5), 7-5
- Norrie v Miomir Kecmanovic | First Meeting
PETERSBURG, RUSSIA – Cameron Norrie could make his first quarter-final of the season as he takes on Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic.
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Cameron Norrie def. Taylor Fritz [8] 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
It was a hard fought but hopefully confidence-building win over Taylor Fritz in the opening round for the British No. 3 Cameron Norrie. Starting confidently, it was a tight affair with not much between them in the first set with the first break points chance falling to Fritz, who could not consolidate.
Norrie took his first and only chance of the first set to break the American on set point, to take the lead. Fritz however hit back with an immediate break at the start of the second set, and again in a taut affair there were no other break points to separate them as Fritz held on to that advantage to level the match.
Norrie was the first to break, again on his first chance, and once more Fritz had a chance to level up and just could not get over the line. Norrie finished it on his first match point chance to book his spot in the second round.
Stan Wawrinka [5) def. Dan Evans 3-6, 7-6(5), 7-5
Dan Evans started his match against Stan Wawrinka spiritedly enough, catching the Swiss napping as he took the first set, breaking him twice. The second set was a much cagier affair with one chance for Wawrinka which came and went, and three chances for Evans to break for the win, as Wawrinka started to turn the tide.
He surged ahead 4-0 in the tie-break and while Evans battled to work his way back into it, Wawrinka closed out the second set on a second set point. Things were a little less straightforward in a nervy decider, with a quick trade of breaks before Wawrinka nudged ahead once more with a second straight break of the Evans serve.
Wawrinka did have to work for his advance into the second round as Evans once more pulled back the deficit, breaking the Brit one more time to clinch the match.
Norrie v Miomir Kecmanovic | First Meeting
If a hard-working ethic was the guarantee of a win, then both these guys would be up for it. Norrie has great big picture thinking out on court and works hard to earn his points. Miomir Kecmanovic moves well, has a mean backhand down the line, and backs it up with a good attitude which can be hard to find amongst some of the younger up-coming players.
Having been approached by both Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic to train with them, he set about learning what sets them apart – footwork and mentality.
That kind of attitude about trying to learn from the best has seen the Serbian rise up the rankings to inside the Top 50, and he will try to hustle the Brit.
Norrie’s win over a seed should give him a lot of confidence though. There was very little in that match, and it was small margins that earned him the win, but Kecmanovic is just as hungry to catapult his way up the rankings. Norrie might have to take this the distance.
Prediction: Norrie in three sets.
Norrie & Kecmanovic are scheduled second on Centre Court, not before 2:30pm (12:30BST).
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