Cameron Norrie’s clay classes continue with easy Italian Open win over Müller

While most top players took their first timid steps on clay once spring arrived, Cameron Norrie has spent the vast majority of the year grinding away on the dirt. His clay-court education continued on Friday as he reached the third round of the Italian Open by easing past Alexandre Müller of France, the world No 100, 6-2, 6-3.

Tennis players tend to schedule with their immediate goals in mind, prioritising their favourite surfaces and conditions, but after a Davis Cup tie on clay in Colombia in February, world No 13 Norrie decided to remain in South America and contest the “Golden Swing” in Buenos Aires and Rio.

Norrie played the long game. He hoped to spend more time on clay and gain more experience but he was unsure how it would pan out. He finished with a final in Argentina before winning the second-biggest title of his career by defeating Carlos Alcaraz, his conqueror in Buenos Aires, in the Brazil final.

“It was risky,” Norrie told the Guardian. “I wanted to go back at some point to play in South America to do that. I wanted to set myself up well for these tournaments. I haven’t played my best in these tournaments but obviously I did really well there, making a final and winning Rio.”

After a strong start to the season with two finals and the ATP 500 title in Rio, Norrie hit a wall. Two months ago in Miami he lost his opening match quickly to Gregoire Barrere, the world No 63. He has since struggled on clay, losing in the first round of Monte Carlo and in his second match in Barcelona and Madrid.

Even after his brutal third-set tiebreak loss to Zhang Zhizhen in Madrid this month, however, Norrie remained positive and upbeat post-match, certain he would turn a corner soon. After victory over Müller, the 27-year-old