Cameron Norrie overcomes slow start to beat Juan Manuel Cerundolo to reach Rio Open second round

Cameron Norrie overcame a slow start to beat Juan Manuel Cerundolo 7-5 6-1 to reach the second round of the Rio Open. Norrie, who lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the Argentina Open final on Sunday, was far from his best but did enough to advance into the last-16. Ad He will play Thiago Monteiro on Wednesday, after the Brazilian beat Dominic Thiem 6-1 3-6 7-6(2).

ATP Buenos AiresAlcaraz breezes past Norrie to claim victory in Argentina Open final19/02/2023 AT 20:54 “I started OK, I just played one loose game,” said Norrie. “Then I had chances on his serve and he actually served really well, played really well on the big points. “I thought I was a bit unlucky to get broken but I was able to find my range, find my legs and used my backhand pretty effectively in the end.

«Last week I was against a couple of Argentines in Buenos Aires, so I think I'm ready for this challenge [against local hope Monteiro]. I will have to play well because he will be coming out with a lot of confidence.» Norrie started strongly but missed two break-point opportunities in the second game. He was punished just minutes later as Cerundolo surprisingly got a break of his own after three poor forehands from Norrie.

Momentum was with Cerundolo as he saved a break point from Norrie in the eighth game and served for the set. However, the British No. 1 began to pick up his game and broke his opponent to make it 5-5, before winning the next two games to steal the set in 53 minutes.