Latest news with #JacobFearnley
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12 hours ago
- Entertainment
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Norrie beats Fearnley after firework disruption
Cameron Norrie has reached the French Open fourth round for the first time in his career [Reuters] Cameron Norrie maintained his focus to beat British rival Jacob Fearnley in a French Open third-round match disrupted by loud fireworks outside Paris St-Germain's stadium. Norrie, 29, was replaced by 23-year-old Fearnley as the British number two earlier this year, but laid down his authority in a 6-3 7-6 (7-1) 6-2 win. Advertisement His reward is a meeting with former world number one Novak Djokovic in the last 16. Bangs were heard throughout the majority of the all-British match as PSG fans geared up for their football team's Champions League final against Inter Milan in Munich. "It was hard managing the fireworks next door - that was the toughest part for both of us," said Norrie, who is ranked 81st in the world. "I was putting my bag down and the umpire said, 'There's just a couple of fireworks. We'll just play on'. "I was thinking it was just going to be a few of in the warm-up, but it was at the most random times." Advertisement Norrie - playing at his best level for a while after a couple of difficult seasons - used his experience to take control against his fellow Scot. The former world number eight managed to subdue French Open debutant Fearnley, who described the noise as "brutal". On the distractions, 55th-ranked Fearnley added: "It's far from ideal but that's life. I understand PSG playing is probably a bit more important than this match. "It's definitely not a reason why I lost the match." Fearnley produced a double fault on match point as Norrie reached the fourth round of the clay-court Grand Slam for the first time. Advertisement After British number one Jack Draper outclassed Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca, there will be two British men in the French Open last 16 for the first time since the Open era was introduced in 1968. 'Vintage' Norrie checks Fearnley's progress Norrie and Fearnley may have never previously met on the ATP Tour, but they are well aware of each other, having trodden a similar path into the professional ranks. The pair both played United States college tennis at Texas Christian University, with the older Norrie often going back to offer wisdom to the younger cohorts. Norrie has been a shining example to them by maximising his abilities to forge an impressive career - reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2022 on his way into the world's top 10. Advertisement Fearnley did not make his ATP debut until last year, turning professional shortly after completing his kinesiology degree. At that point, he was still unranked but has since made one of the sharpest rises in ATP history. Fearnley had not played on clay professionally until last month and a confident Norrie - who beat former world number one Daniil Medvedev in the first round - produced a confident display to win. "I was really able to play consistent kind of vintage Norrie tennis," said the British number three. "Just playing seven out of 10 for three and a half hours - or as long as I needed to do that. I did it again so I was really happy with the way I performed." Advertisement Norrie shared a warm embrace with Fearnley at the net after a three-hour contest played in bizarre circumstances. Almost 50,000 football supporters were arriving at the Parc des Princes - over the road from Roland Garros - to watch the Champions League final on big screens. Norrie had to abort his serve when he led 4-1 in the second-set tie-break, but refocused to secure a commanding lead. As well as the fireworks, the players could also hear car horns tooting and police sirens during the opening two sets. The noise subsided in the third set - as the football match's kick-off time approached - and Norrie cruised to victory. Advertisement
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
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Cameron Norrie swats Jacob Fearnley aside to win all-British clash at French Open
The extra experience of 29-year-old Cameron Norrie saw him through the battle of the Brits against up-and-coming Jacob Fearnley, who is still finding his way around the tour. It really did feel like a battle, because this corner of Paris was rocked by the sound of constant explosions. Norrie and Fearnley had to maintain their focus despite the popping sound of firecrackers, the smell of cordite and the haze of drifting smoke. Advertisement The explanation for all this disruption lay in the wild crowds of football fans who were surrounding Roland Garros in preparation for the Champions League final. They weren't here for the tennis, but for the big screens at the adjacent Parc des Princes stadium, which seats almost 50,000 people. To their credit, both players remained steady under fire and never so much as complained to the umpire – who happened to be an Englishman, Robert Balmforth. You could see the fireworks flaring over the high sides of the stadium. During the second-set tie-break the gun-like cracking sounds grew so loud that Norrie paused for half-a-minute before serving. This gesture drew a round of applause from those few thousand fans who had not scarpered in search of a football broadcast. They clearly appreciated the players' imperturbability. Even without the trimmings, this was a rare fixture indeed. There had been previous French Open meetings between Britons in the Open era, but they had all taken place in the first round. Here, for the first time, we had a contest for a place in the last 16. Advertisement Just to add to the symmetry, both men identify as Scots – even if Norrie grew up in New Zealand – and both honed their games at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth before turning pro. Full report to follow . . . 07:56 PM BST Norrie speaks - 'I had to work hard for the win' On the win... 'I feel great but it was really tough to get there. Tough match playing Jacob [Fearnley] today. We both went to the same university, TCU, and he has had an amazing season and an amazing breakthrough on the tour. I didn't know what to expect from him. I was just really happy I played a solid match. I was a bit tentative towards the end and it was a great atmosphere. I went through about seven shirts in three sets so I was sweating a lot and had to work hard for that so it really felt good.' On that long, tough second set... 'He was playing really good when he was down. I played some of my best tennis at the second set and he played better than me, credit to him. I didn't panic at all when he broke me both times. He dropped a bit in the tie-break.' On the noise and tonight's Champions League final... 'The toughest part was managing the fireworks next door for both of us. Looking forward to the match and it would be nice to see PSG win it.' 07:50 PM BST Who next for Norrie? The Briton will play the winner of the Novak Djokovic vs Filip Musolic match which has just got under way. Norrie's confidence is riding high, will that be enough if he faces Djokovic in the next round? - AFP/Dimitar Dilkoff 07:42 PM BST Norrie beats Fearnley 6-3, 7-6 (7-1), 6-2 Fearnley is under pressure on his serve at 0-30 down. An emphatic smash two points later then gives Norrie two match points. He needs at least two as Fearnley plays a blistering forehand winner - brilliant but too few and far between. He then double faults and that is a poor way to lose this match. Advertisement Norrie joins Jack Draper in the second week at Roland Garros. It's also the first time Norrie has made it to the second week on the red dirt of Paris. 07:36 PM BST Cameron Norrie 6-3, 7-6 (7-1), 5-2 Jacob Fearnley* (*denotes next server) Fearnley lives to fight on, breaking to claimed the break with a long rally where, for once, he didn't look like making the error, that put pressure on Norrie and a wide forehand means this set and match will continue. 07:31 PM BST Cameron Norrie* 6-3, 7-6 (7-1), 5-1 Jacob Fearnley (*denotes next server) Fearnley is muttering away to himself after another unforced error - missing long with the whole court to hit into - leaves him 0-15 down. A wide backhand then gifts Norrie another point for gets it back to 30-30 but another unforced error - backhand into the net - gives Norrie a break point. He cannot capitalise, however. At deuce the all-too-familiar error once again comes from Fearnley and Norrie has another break point. This time Norrie does capitalise and this match is all but over. Advertisement All Norrie has had to do this set is keep Fearley hitting and wait for the mistake. 07:26 PM BST Cameron Norrie 6-3, 7-6 (7-1), 4-1 Jacob Fearnley* (*denotes next server) Another easy hold for Norrie who, like this match, is running away with the set. 07:23 PM BST Cameron Norrie* 6-3, 7-6 (7-1), 3-1 Jacob Fearnley (*denotes next server) Fearnley shows great touch to come into the net and then play a delightful drop shot that Norrie can do nothing about. But he follows that up with another unforced error (No.62) - a long backhand - to allow Norrie back in this game at 30-15. Norrie then wins the next point and once again Fearnley is under pressure on his own serve. A forehand into the net then gifts Norrie a break he capitalise? Yes, he can as another forehand into the net leaves Fearnley looking up to the sky for help and inspiration. Advertisement You don't have to be Nostradamus to predict fairly certainly that that could be the key game of this set. 07:18 PM BST Cameron Norrie 6-3, 7-6 (7-1), 2-1 Jacob Fearnley* (*denotes next server) The unforced errors keep on hurting Fearnley, he's up to 60 now (ouch)...I wrote that too soon as the very next point there's another to make it 61. That allows Norrie to hold to love. 07:15 PM BST Cameron Norrie* 6-3, 7-6 (7-1), 1-1 Jacob Fearnley (*denotes next server) The crowd has thinned somewhat, doubtless to go see PSG face Inter in the Champions League final which gets under way in 45 minutes. Meanwhile, Fearnley has one of his easier service games holding to 15. 07:12 PM BST Cameron Norrie 6-3, 7-6 (7-1), 1-0 Jacob Fearnley* (*denotes next server) In between sets the fireworks have stopped and hopefully that remains the case but I am not holding my breath. Fearnley had a chat with his coaches during the set break whilst Norrie left the court. Advertisement Norrie is on serve in this third set. Fearnley knows he has it all to do being two sets down and he races to 30-0 up. However Norrie responds by winning the next three points and moves to 40-30 up. Norrie seals the game and gets going well in this third set. 07:01 PM BST Cameron Norrie takes the second set 7-6 (7-1) Fearnley has first serve in this tie-break but Norrie takes the first point. The second point goes Norrie's way as well as Fearnley gets a forehand all wrong. A superb ace from Norrie takes him 3-0 up. Fearnley then hits the net and Norrie is romping away in this tie-break. But Fearnley responds with his first point. Advertisement Just as Norrie was about to serve at a crucial moment the fireworks went off once more and these two have dealt really well with those distractions. Fearnley goes wide down the line and Norrie is 5-1 up now. Fearnley hits the net with a return and Norrie now has five set points. Fearnley goes long and Norrie takes the second set. He is now one set away from the next round. Cameron Norrie in control of this match -06:54 PM BST Cameron Norrie* 6-3, 6-6 Jacob Fearnley (*denotes next server) He may have been comfortably broken on serve in the last game but Fearnley has responded with back-to-back points to go 30-0 up. But Norrie hits back by winning the next two points to bring it level at 30-30. Advertisement Fearnley wins the next point and has a massive break point coming. He goes for the ambitious backhand down the line but it goes wide so we go to deuce. Fearnley goes long and Norrie has set point. He forehand goes wide though and we are back to deuce. Fearnley then has an advantage of his own and a massive break point. Norrie goes long and we go a tie-break in this second set. 06:45 PM BST Cameron Norrie* 6-3, 6-5 Jacob Fearnley (*denotes next server) Norrie goes 30-0 up on the Fearnley serve and that is not the time for Fearnley to double fault. Norrie therefore has three break points and he takes it at the first time. He breaks straight back and will serve for the second set. Cameron Norrie close to the second set - Christian Hartmann/Reuters 06:42 PM BST Cameron Norrie 6-3, 5-5 Jacob Fearnley* (*denotes next server) Fearnley is gaining some momentum in this second set and he is hitting some terrific clean winners left, right and centre at the moment. The pressure is on Norrie and Fearnley delivers another great winner, with a forehand down the line. Another sublime Fearnley shot gives him three break points and we could be about to go to 5-5 in this second set. Advertisement Norrie saves the first break point and saves the second. Can he save the third? No he cannot and this set is well and truly alive. 06:37 PM BST Cameron Norrie* 6-3, 5-4 Jacob Fearnley (*denotes next server) Whatever issue Fearnley it seems to have passed as he is moving more freely now. He races to 40-0 up courtesy of some sublime shots and another sensational shot, this time a forehand across the court on top of the bounce, seals the game and he has put the pressure back on Norrie, who will be serving for the game. Is the momentum shifting? - Lindsey Wasson/AP 06:34 PM BST Cameron Norrie 6-3, 5-3 Jacob Fearnley* (*denotes next server) How will Norrie respond to Fearnley winning three straight games? He holds his serve and stops the Fearnley run. Norrie is now just one game away from going two sets up. 06:29 PM BST Cameron Norrie* 6-3, 4-3 Jacob Fearnley (*denotes next server) Fearnley seems to be fighting through whatever he is struggling with and the momentum of the match has just started to shift. He goes 30-0 up but Norrie wins the next two points. Advertisement The double fault is back for Fearnley, presenting Norrie with a break point, but Fearnley holds firm to take us to deuce. Norrie's forehand is wayward and Fearnley has advantage to take him within a game of Norrie in this set. Fearnley takes it and wins his third game in a row. He is fighting back. 06:24 PM BST Cameron Norrie 6-3, 4-2 Jacob Fearnley* (*denotes next server) If it is just cramp for Fearnley, he will just be hoping to get through the next 20 or 30 minutes without too much damage. However he is already one set down and down in this set. If you are Norrie surely you have to move Fearnley around, although Fearnley does go 30-15 up on Norrie's serve. Advertisement Norrie wins the next point but, despite being given the run-around by Norrie, Fearnley takes it to 40-30 and has a break point but Norrie responds well and takes us to deuce. A number of these games in this second set have been super tight and gone deep. Fearnley gets advantage and has a second break point of the game but Norrie takes it back to deuce. Then Fearnley's return on the Norrie serve is limp and goes into the net. Norrie has advantage but wastes it with a wayward forehand. Fearnley may be struggling physically but a great backhand across court on the stretch gives him a third break point of the game. Can he take it this time? Yes he can as Norrie hits the net and Fearnley has his first break of the match. Jacob Fearnley fighting - Yoan Valat/Shutterstock 06:16 PM BST Cameron Norrie* 6-3, 4-1 Jacob Fearnley (*denotes next server) Fearnley is definitely struggling with cramp or an injury but he does go 40-30 up on serve and seals his first game of this second set as Norrie hits into the net. Advertisement Fearnley is slow back to his chair in between games and you wonder if he might request a medical timeout soon. 06:13 PM BST Cameron Norrie 6-3, 4-0 Jacob Fearnley* (*denotes next server) The double faults are catching as Norrie now registers one but he responds by winning the next three points to go 40-15 up. A second double fault of the game keeps Fearnley in it and then a stunning forehand down the line from Fearnley on the run beats Norrie, who cannot believe he did not win that point and seal the game. To deuce we go in back-to-back games. Fearnley secures another delightful winner with a backhand across the court and has a break point. Fearnley goes wide though and it is back to deuce. Advertisement Fearnley then hits into the net and it is advantage Norrie. After that point Fearnley takes a moment and looks like he may have hurt himself a little in the lower leg. A stunning forehand from Fearnley takes things back to deuce. Norrie goes long and that hands Fearnley a break point. A long rally ensues, which went one way and then another. Norrie looked on top, then Fearnley perhaps should have won it but he hits the net and it is deuce once more. Fearnley's backhand down the line is just wide and Norrie has the chance to seal the game, which has lasted quite some time. He does as Fearnley goes long with a laboured shot. Norrie firmly in control of this match as Fearnley looks like he might be struggling a little. Cameron Norrie looking on pace to win the second set -06:01 PM BST Cameron Norrie* 6-3, 3-0 Jacob Fearnley (*denotes next server) Norrie thinks he is about to bring it back to 15-15 as he races to the net, thinking he is about win the point, but Fearnley beats him and goes 30-0 up. Advertisement Fearnley though continues to make errors and registers another double fault. A great Norrie backhand down the line brings us to 30-30. Fearnley puts the pressure on and wins the next point to go 40-30 up. Another Fearnley error though takes us to deuce. Norrie goes long and Fearnley has advantage but he cannot take it as his forehand goes long. Fearnley secures another advantage but another unforced error is costly. Back to deuce. Fearnley goes long and Norrie has a break point but his return is long. Back to deuce once more. Another advantage goes Fearnley's way but it is another double fault from Fearnley. Back-to-back double faults gives Norrie another break point, which he takes as Fearnley goes long. Fearnley will be wondering how on earth he did not win that game but Norrie will not care. Can Jacob Fearnley get back in this match? -05:52 PM BST Cameron Norrie 6-3, 2-0 Jacob Fearnley* (*denotes next server) You feel Fearnley badly needs a break of his own here and he does move 30-15 up on Norrie's serve. He nearly goes 40-15 up but his forehand goes ever so slightly wrong. Fearnley then hits the net and Norrie goes 40-30 up. Fearnley goes long and he has rather gifted Norrie that game. Norrie is very much in the ascendancy. Cameron Norrie in control - Lindsey Wasson/AP 05:46 PM BST Cameron Norrie* 6-3, 1-0 Jacob Fearnley (*denotes next server) It is all going on with fireworks being sett off. A lot of PSG fans will be in Munich this evening but if they beat Inter Milan in the Champions League final, Paris will presumably go bonkers. Advertisement Fearnley will be on serve to start the second set. Having lost the opening set, Fearnley will want to settle down and bounce back or else this could get away from them. Norrie though is not going to make it easy on Fearnley's serve as we go to 30-30. Another double fault in this match for Fearnley gives Norrie break point, which he takes as Fearnley goes long. Early break in the second set for the man already a set up. Jacob Fearnley under pressure - Christian Hartmann/Reuters 05:40 PM BST Cameron Norrie takes first set 6-3 Early advantage in the game to Fearnley as he wins a lengthy rally, with Norrie going long. Norrie then responds by winning the next three points to set up two set points. Advertisement He misses his first chance to take the opening set and wastes the second courtesy of a double fault, so we move to deuce. After losing consecutive points, Norrie hits back to set a third set point but once again he cannot take it as he cannot execute a drop shot. Fearnley nearly takes the next point after a lengthy rally but instead it will be a fourth set point for Norrie, which this time he takes to win the opening set. 05:32 PM BST Cameron Norrie* 5-3 Jacob Fearnley (*denotes next server) Fearnley wins the first point on his latest service game but the double fault creeps back in. Too many for his liking but Norrie will not be complaining. Advertisement Fearnley moves to 30-15 up and then executes a delightful drop shot to go 40-15 ahead. Norrie though has no intention of giving up this game quite yet and keeps Fearnley on his toes. Fearnley then hits into the net and we move to deuce. A superb ace gives Fearnley advantage but once again the double fault creeps in and returns us for deuce. It is back to advantage to Fearnley and he takes the game with a superb forehand. The first set is still alive but Norrie will serve for it. 05:25 PM BST Cameron Norrie 5-2 Jacob Fearnley* (*denotes next server) That was quite the point to take Norrie 30-0 up. His second serve takes Fearnley so wide but the return comes back. Norrie plays a shot then down the line that just goes in and then wins the point. Norrie wins the next two points and cruises to within one game of the opening set. On serve he has been formidable so far. 05:21 PM BST Cameron Norrie* 4-2 Jacob Fearnley (*denotes next server) Fearnley moves 15-0 up on serve but a great backhand down the line from Norris wins him the point. Advertisement A superb forehand though down the line takes Fearnley to 30-15 ahead. He knows he needs this game to realistically stay alive in this set. He then goes 40-15 up as he punishes a slightly sloppy attempted drop shot from Norrie but Norrie stays alive as Fearnley hits the net. Fearnley nails an ace though and sees out the game. 05:16 PM BST Cameron Norrie 4-1 Jacob Fearnley* (*denotes next server) Norrie races to 40-0 up but Fearnley stays alive with a terrific forehand right on the top of a high bounce. He really got on top of that one. But he does not stay alive for long as an ace from Norrie wins him the game and he is now 4-1 up in this first set. Cameron Norrie in the ascendancy early on - Lindsey Wasson/AP 05:13 PM BST Cameron Norrie* 3-1 Jacob Fearnley (*denotes next server) Norrie is standing very deep waiting for Fearnley's serve but he takes us to 30-30 in this game. A Fearnley ace though gives him the chance to seal the game to take us to 2-2 but that is not the time to register a double fault. We go to deuce and Fearnley puts the pressure on Norrie, sealing the point with a forehand down the line to go to advantage. Advertisement Norrie has not given up on this game and, after a lengthy rally, Fearnley makes an error and we return to deuce. Fearnley then finds the net and could we have the biggest moment of the match so far as Norrie has the first break point? Another lengthy rally ensues and a superb forehand by Fearnley takes us back to deuce. Once again really not a good time for a double fault from Fearnley, which hands Norrie another break point, which this time he takes as Fearnley goes long. Early advantage to Cameron Norrie -05:04 PM BST Cameron Norrie 2-1 Jacob Fearnley* (*denotes next server) Norrie wins the first point of his service game after a lengthy rally but Fearnley will be disappointed he did not win that. Advertisement Norrie moves to 30-0 up but he makes his first double fault. Perhaps he is a little distracted by the fireworks being set off somewhere in the distance! That does not put Norrie off too much as the double fault is the only point he dropped in that service game. 05:00 PM BST Cameron Norrie* 1-1 Jacob Fearnley (*denotes next server) Fearnley gets his first point on the board with a great forehand down the line. That will settle some of the nerves and so will winning the next point. Perhaps some nerves still there as he registers his first double fault of the match. However he wins the next two points and makes it 1-1. Honours even so far. Who will come out on top in the battle of the Britons? -04:57 PM BST Cameron Norrie 1-0 Jacob Fearnley* (*denotes next server) The first point of the match goes Norrie's way as Fearnley went long. Norrie races through the rest of the game including a great forehand across the court to win the first game with ease. Early statement from Norrie in the battle of the Britons. 04:54 PM BST Off we go The all-British affair is under way. Norrie will serve first. 04:50 PM BST Coin toss Goes the way of Norrie. The chair umpire is also British so it is an all-British affair in Roland Garros on this late May early evening. These two have never met professionally but they both did attend TCU (Texas Christian University) in the USA. 04:48 PM BST Nearly ready for action Cameron Norrie is the first man welcomed onto Court Simonne-Mathieu before Jacob Fearnley make his way onto court. Time for some warm-ups before we get under way. 04:47 PM BST Factfile Individual ranking: Cameron Norrie 81-55 Jacob Fearnley Age: 29-23 Strong hand: Left-Right Singles career titles: 5-0 Wins/losses: 222/166-11/11 04:41 PM BST Norrie: 'I will be difficult to beat' Cameron Norrie took the scalp of former world No 1 and 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev in the first round. I'm happy to be through and enjoying my tennis again,' Norrie said ahead of playing Jacob Fearnley. I feel like I have a really good game for the clay in general. I think it's down to if I'm moving well and giving nothing away. I can be really difficult to beat. [Fearnley] has had unreal results. This is his first clay season and he has played unreal. It is going to be tough playing him. 04:37 PM BST Next up on the big stage Fearnley and Norrie are the fourth match today on Court Simone-Mathie and are next on after Alexander Bublik defeated Henrique Rocha in straight sets. 04:33 PM BST Draper outclasses rising star Fonseca Britain's Jack Draper underlined his status as one of the world's leading players with a ruthlessly efficient win over Brazilian rising star Joao Fonseca in the third round. The British No 1 was a cut above his 18-year-old opponent in a 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 victory. The 23-year-old Englishman, who had never won a match at Roland Garros until this week, will face either Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik or Portugal's Henrique Rocha in the fourth round. Read Simon Briggs' match report here. Jack Draper has developed into a top player with ambitions of challenging for the biggest titles over the past 12 months - Getty Images/Julian Finney 04:23 PM BST Preview: Battle of Britain Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of Jacob Fearnley v Cameron Norrie in an all-British clash in the French Open third round. Fearnley faces Norrie for the first time but they share a similar path having both played college tennis at the same university in Texas. Fearnley is playing at the French Open for the first time, having enjoyed a rapid rise from outside the world's top 500 a year ago to being on the verge of the top 50 – despite having never played a professional match on clay before this year. He has taken two notable scalps at Roland Garros, beating veteran 2015 French Open champion Stan Wawrinka in straight sets before 22nd seed Ugo Humbert retired injured at 4-4 in the second set after the Scot won the first 6-3. 'It's an interesting one,' Fearnley said. 'I know Cam very well. We both went to TCU in America, although we didn't cross paths there. 'To see a guy coming out of the college I went to, it was just inspiring. It kind of showed me that it was possible, that the coaches at TCU and the work that he put in at TCU could get him to the Tour. 'He's done amazing things on the Tour. He competes so hard, fights every match, fights every point. You can see that he really leaves it all out there. So that's something that I admire.' Meanwhile, Norrie has fallen to 81 in the rankings but defeated Daniil Medvedev in the opening round and believes he has turned his run of form around. Former world number eight Norris said: 'I'm happy to be through and enjoying my tennis again. I feel like I have a really good game for the clay in general. 'I think it's down to, if I'm moving well and giving nothing away, I can be really difficult to beat.' On Fearnley's rapid rise through the ranks, he added: 'This is his first clay season and he has played unreal. It is going to be tough playing him.' The winner could face Novak Djokovic in the last-16, with the three-time French Open champion taking on Austrian qualifier Filip Misolic. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
The Independent
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Cameron Norrie overcomes Jacob Fearnley to reach second week of French Open
Cameron Norrie reached the French Open fourth round with a bang after beating fellow British star Jacob Fearnley. Norrie secured a likely showdown with Novak Djokovic after a straight-sets win in a surreal match played out to an ear-splitting backdrop of explosions and pyrotechnics. The din was down to thousands of Paris St Germain fans gathering for the Champions League final outside the Parc des Princes, which is a stone's throw from Court Simonne-Mathieu and was showing the game on a big screen. But Fearnley struggled to produce any fireworks as the more experienced Norrie extended his stay in the French capital into the second week. It will be Norrie's first appearance at this stage and, with Jack Draper already through, Britain has two men in the fourth round for the first time in French Open history. Tennis players usually like to play in silence but this end of Paris sounded more like a war zone. Serving was proving difficult for both men with explosions going off almost every time one of them tossed the ball. At one point during a crucial second-set tie-break, Norrie had to abort his service motion completely amid a series of loud bangs. Fearnley may have overtaken Norrie in the world rankings, but the 23-year-old made a nervous start amid the deafening noise. Norrie was a set and two breaks up before Fearnley, who has only just completed a first full year on the Tour, found his feet and levelled the second set. But despite the disruption, 29-year-old Norrie held his nerve in the tie-break to move two sets up. The noise finally subsided, and the crowd shrunk considerably, as kick-off approached leaving Norrie to complete a 6-3 7-6 (1) 6-2 victory in two hours and 43 minutes.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cameron Norrie overcomes Jacob Fearnley to reach second week of French Open
Cameron Norrie reached the French Open fourth round with a bang after beating fellow British star Jacob Fearnley. Norrie secured a likely showdown with Novak Djokovic after a straight-sets win in a surreal match played out to an ear-splitting backdrop of explosions and pyrotechnics. Advertisement The din was down to thousands of Paris St Germain fans gathering for the Champions League final outside the Parc des Princes, which is a stone's throw from Court Simonne-Mathieu and was showing the game on a big screen. But Fearnley struggled to produce any fireworks as the more experienced Norrie extended his stay in the French capital into the second week. It will be Norrie's first appearance at this stage and, with Jack Draper already through, Britain has two men in the fourth round for the first time in French Open history. Tennis players usually like to play in silence but this end of Paris sounded more like a war zone. Advertisement Serving was proving difficult for both men with explosions going off almost every time one of them tossed the ball. At one point during a crucial second-set tie-break, Norrie had to abort his service motion completely amid a series of loud bangs. Jacob Fearnley was beaten in straight sets (Lindsey Wasson/AP) Fearnley may have overtaken Norrie in the world rankings, but the 23-year-old made a nervous start amid the deafening noise. Norrie was a set and two breaks up before Fearnley, who has only just completed a first full year on the Tour, found his feet and levelled the second set. But despite the disruption, 29-year-old Norrie held his nerve in the tie-break to move two sets up. The noise finally subsided, and the crowd shrunk considerably, as kick-off approached leaving Norrie to complete a 6-3 7-6 (1) 6-2 victory in two hours and 43 minutes.
BBC News
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Norrie beats Fearnley after firework disruption
Cameron Norrie maintained his focus to beat British rival Jacob Fearnley in a French Open third-round match disrupted by loud fireworks outside Paris St-Germain's 29, was replaced by 23-year-old Fearnley as the British number two earlier this year, but laid down his authority in a 6-3 7-6 (7-1) 6-2 were heard throughout the majority of the match as PSG fans geared up for their football team's Champions League final against Inter Milan in Munich."It was hard managing the fireworks next door - that was the toughest part for both of us," Norrie, who is ranked 81st in the world, - playing at his best level for a while after a couple of difficult seasons - used his experience to take control against his fellow managed to subdue French Open debutant Fearnley, who appeared to pick up an injury in the second ranked 55th, produced a double fault on match point as Norrie reached the last 16 of the clay-court Grand Slam for the first time. The reward could be a meeting with former world number one Novak Djokovic, who plays later on and Fearnley - who had never played at ATP level previously - shared a warm embrace at the net after a three-hour contest played in bizarre 50,000 supporters were arriving at the Parc des Princes - which is over the road from Roland Garros - to watch the game on big had to abort his serve when he led 4-1 in the second-set tie-break, but refocused to secure a commanding well as the fireworks, the players could also hear car horns tooting and police sirens during the opening two noise subsided in the third set - as the football match's kick-off time approached - and Norrie cruised to victory."I feel great - it was really tough to get there," said Norrie."It was a tough match playing Jacob. He's had an amazing season and breakthrough on the tour."
