Norrie stuns Medvedev in French Open

Express Tribune

6 days ago

Britain's Cameron Norrie needed five sets to get past 11th seed Daniil Medvedev of Russia. Photo: AFP
Britain's Cameron Norrie ousted former world number one Daniil Medvedev in a marathon five-set first round match at the French Open on Tuesday.
Former US Open champion and five-time Grand Slam runner-up Medvedev was dumped out in the first round for the sixth time in Paris, losing 7-5, 6-3, 4-6, 1-6, 7-5 in just under four hours.
British number one Norrie, ranked 81, threw his racquet in the air in delight as he claimed his first win in five meetings with the 11th-seeded Russian.
Norrie had battled back from a break down in the decider, surviving after Medvedev had served for the match at 5-4 in the fifth set.
"Disappointed to lose, that I didn't manage to serve it out," said Medvedev.
"It was a great fight. He played well. I didn't play good enough. So that's why I lost."
Norrie said: "Playing Daniil is not easy. It was always going to be a tricky match for me. It was just pure emotion at the end and pure instinct.
"I lost to him two weeks ago. He completely chopped me in Rome. In a Slam, beating him in five sets is impressive for me. I can take a lot of confidence."
Norrie said his semi-final on clay in Geneva last week against 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic had been "really helpful" in preparing for Roland Garros.
"I felt it was just a continuation of that match today. It was like playing the fourth set against Novak in the first set against Daniil.
"I managed to get it over the line, it was a crazy match."
The 29-year-old Medvedev's best finish in Paris was the quarter-finals in 2021.
Norrie, also 29, plays the second round in Paris for the fifth time against Argentina's Federico Gomez who rallied past American Aleksandar Kovacevic 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-1.
"Massive forehand. Massive serve. I know on his day, he's very tough to beat," said Norrie of 144th-ranked Gomez. "He must be playing well to beat Kovacevic on clay. It's a huge win."
Fonseca thanks Kuerten
Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca began his French Open campaign with a 6-2 6-4 6-2 win over Hubert Hurkacz in front of a packed crowd on Court Seven and attributed the huge support to the popularity of compatriot and former champion Gustavo Kuerten.
All three of former world number one Kuerten's Grand Slam triumphs came at the French Open (1997, 2000 and 2001) and 18-year-old Fonseca said that he had made the tournament more popular with Brazilian tennis fans.
"I knew there is going to be a lot of Brazilians here in Paris, a lot of Brazilians living here and they come a lot," Fonseca told reporters after his win over 30th seed Hurkacz on Tuesday.
"I think because of Guga (Kuerten), because of the tradition, there is a lot of Brazilians."
One of the rising stars of the men's tour, Fonseca shocked ninth seed Andrey Rublev on his Grand Slam main draw debut at the Australian Open in January and became the youngest Brazilian to win an ATP tournament at the Argentina Open the following month.
Fonseca said he wanted to focus on improving himself instead of the growing pressure brought on by rising expectations.
"Sometimes the pressure is going to come. It's normal. You need to deal with it," he added.
Fonseca may not enjoy the same level of support in the next round on Thursday as he faces Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert.