Cameron Norrie fights back against grass-court specialist Jordan Thompson

Cameron Norrie continued his solid start to the grass court season as he navigated the challenges presented by one of the tricker players on the surface and advanced to the quarter-finals of Queen’s Club for the second time. After trailing by a set, Norrie soared, recovering to defeat Jordan Thompson 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.

“It was the perfect match,” he said. “Jordan really likes the grass. He played a couple of good points to break me and I played a couple of loose points and that was the difference in the first set. I thought I played great so I didn’t really have to change too much.”

In recent years Thompson has established a reputation for his grass court prowess. The 29-year-old has reached two ATP finals in his career and both have come on grass, his second final coming last week in ’s-Hertogenbosch when he lost against the home favourite, Tallon Griekspoor, in three tight sets.

Unlike most players on the tour outside of Great Britain, Thompson spent plenty of time in his youth competing on grass and he has developed a suitable all-court game, with a sweet backhand slice and a precise serve, which comes alive on the surface.

The Australian was sharp from the beginning. As is often the case on grass, the opening set was decided by a couple of points. Thompson served immaculately, firing 10 aces in his first five service gamesand the difference between them was one loose service game from Norrie.

Throughout the second set, Norrie gradually worked his way into the ascendancy. The fifth seed began to read Thompson’s serve much more effectively, landing ample returns while taking care of his own service games.

Norrie’s incredibly flat backhand, which skids so low on the grass, also proved a nightmare for Thompson as the match