Cameron Norrie arrived for his third-round contest against Casper Ruud with the cards stacked against him. He had won one set in three defeats from three matches with the Norwegian. If he did not make significant changes in this unfavourable match-up, losing was the most likely outcome.
It is to his immense credit that he did not hesitate to show a new dimension to his game. Instead of grinding from behind the baseline, a tactic that has brought him success throughout his career, the world No 8 took the initiative at the net, placed his opponent under constant pressure and emerged with a stellar 6-4, 6-7 (7), 6-4, 6-3 win.
“In terms of performances, it was up there with one of my best in a grand slam,” he said. “Losing that second set, he served really well. I came out with a lot of energy. Then down a break in the third I managed to stay really tough. I was committed to the gameplan and I loved it. I played really well.”
Not only does the victory move Norrie into the last 16 of the Australian Open for the first time, but he pulled it off with one of his best wins. Despite being a top-20 player for the past three years, this is only the second time in 12 attempts he has defeated an opponent in the top 20 at a grand slam and Ruud at No 11 is his highest scalp yet at a slam.
Ten days ago, it was hard to imagine such a result. The Briton began the tournament with notable injury concerns after wrist pain forced him to withdraw from Auckland, which was once the 28-year-old’s home tournament. He then stared down the prospect of defeat in the second round, trailing Giulio Zeppieri, a qualifier, by two sets before winning in five sets..
“From that match, I didn’t play my best and wasn’t feeling mentally that good and was able to win in five sets,” he said. “So I was feeling really confident after that. Then waking up this morning, I was feeling good and ready to take it to Casper.”
After overcoming those difficulties, Norrie burst out of the blocks with inspired, intelligent tennis and looked to take control of the exchanges, relentlessly attacking Ruud’s backhand, storming the net while forcing the Norwegian to find a passing shot on that weaker wing. He also served well and kept Ruud guessing by slipping in drop shots as he broke serve once and rolled through the set.
Ruud maintained his composure and he started the second set serving extremely well. Under pressure from the Norwegian, Norrie played bold, attacking tennis whenever he trailed, landing first serves and flattening out his forehand. After holding on to reach the tiebreak, Norrie earned two set points at 6-4. On his second set point, he missed an easy backhand and Ruud eventually levelled the match.
The momentum had clearly shifted in Ruud’s favour. After easing through his service games, he took a lead with a break at 3-2 in the third set, seemingly in control. But Norrie responded by returning to the tactics that had served him so well. He smothered Ruud’s backhand, volleyed brilliantly and constantly challenged his opponent to find passing shots with his backhand.
Having retrieved the break, Norrie cruised through the remainder of the match on his terms. He held his nerve, clinching the final game by closing out each point at the net.
As the John Cain Arena shook, it was one of Norrie’s best performances, winning 41 of 56 points at the net, striking 63 winners and offering a glimpse of new capabilities.
He explained why he committed so strongly to playing in such an attacking manner despite the success he has had playing more conservatively. He noted that while his matches have always been physical, he was often the instigator. He is now trying to ensure the work is more evenly distributed.
“I was playing physical and it was physical for me and not so much for the other guy,” he said. “I think about trying to make it physical for the other guy and that involves being aggressive. That’s when I’m playing my best.”
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After Wimbledon, Norrie’s form was in freefall. He lost 13 of 17 matches from then on. He seemed burned out from the weight of his heavy schedule and the supreme efforts it had taken. Now he is rejuvenated.
“It helped having a good break and a really good off-season to put a lot of time on the court and get better as a player,” he said. “It comes down to how can you play the biggest points the best and feeling calm and feeling good about yourself. I have done that and I was feeling that coming into the season.
“I want to keep going. I know it just gets tougher. Next match is going to be tougher. I’ll enjoy today and then move on.”
His next match will indeed be tougher as he faces Alexander Zverev, the sixth seed, who beat Alex Michelsen with a 6-2, 7-6 (4), 6-2.
