Photo credit: www.bbc.com
Cameron Norrie’s Resilient Victory at the Madrid Open
Britain’s Cameron Norrie celebrated a significant first-round triumph at the Madrid Open, highlighting his win against Martin Landaluce as one of the standout moments of his career, especially given the challenges he faced with illness leading up to the match.
The former British number one emerged victorious against the 19-year-old Spaniard with a score of 6-7 (4-7), 7-5, 6-4, marking his first ATP main-draw victory since early March. Norrie’s recent performance struggles have seen him slip to 91st in the world rankings, adding pressure to his journey in the tournament.
Initially, Norrie’s match appeared to be a continuation of his difficulties as he lost five consecutive games after starting strong at 3-0 in the first set. However, demonstrating resilience, he fought back from a 0-3 deficit in the second set, even saving a match point before securing the win.
Experience played a crucial role in Norrie’s victory, particularly during a chaotic moment in the deciding set when Landaluce faltered at 4-4. Norrie methodically reassessed his approach and capitalized on the opportunities presented.
After the match, Norrie shared his challenges with illness, communicating to Sky Sports, “It’s terrible timing but at least I have another day tomorrow to rest. Hopefully, it will pass pretty quickly.” He expressed that despite his discomfort, he cherished the win, stating, “It’s maybe one of my favourite wins. I was feeling absolutely terrible. I had to create my own energy.” The British player showed respect for his opponent, acknowledging Landaluce’s talent and stating, “He actually played really well, I know he’s a really good player, so I had to fight every point.”
Looking ahead, Norrie is set to face the Czech Republic’s 26th seed, Jiri Lehecka, in the second round of the tournament, where he will hope to build on this hard-fought victory.
Source
www.bbc.com