Latest news with #NewZealand-raised
1News
a day ago
- Sport
- 1News
NZ-raised Cameron Norrie stuns 12th seed in Wimbledon upset
New Zealand-raised Cameron Norrie stunned American 12th seed Frances Tiafoe at Wimbledon overnight. Norrie is now ranked 61, lost in the first round of both his warm-up events, and had never previously beaten a top-20 player at Wimbledon. But that mattered little as the British No. 3 came back from losing the first set to win 4-6 6-4 6-3 7-5. "I'm enjoying my tennis more than ever. It was really nice coming up to get into the top 10 but it's just tough, really tough, to stay there," Norrie said. "It's nice to hunt the other guys. I was coming into the match today against Frances, being the underdog, playing for free. "It was a lot easier than in the past when I previously played Frances. I was the highest-seeded player, and the pressure was on me." ADVERTISEMENT Champ ends British student's Wimbledon fairy tale There are students everywhere at Wimbledon. Serving in the restaurants, watering the plants, helping out in the media centre. It's a much sought-after summer job. Among those working here is Oliver Tarvet from St Albans, an ancient town just north of London, who is back home for the holidays from the University of San Diego. Majoring in communications, with a minor in marketing, he will certainly have a story to tell and sell when he returns to California for his final year. Tarvet, 21, has a different role from most students at Wimbledon. He's actually playing, and on Wednesday he found himself centre stage on Centre Court enjoying a fairytale beyond imagination. The world No.733 was given a wildcard into qualifying, unexpectedly parlayed that into a main draw place, then won his opening round match against 117-ranked Leonardo Riedi to earn an encounter with defending champ and world No.2 Carlos Alacaraz on the sport's most famous court. Carlos Alcaraz of Spain and Oliver Tarvet of Britain, right, ishake hands after their second round men's singles match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London. (Source: Associated Press) ADVERTISEMENT That's where the dream ended, the Spaniard winning 6-1 6-4 6-4, except it didn't, really. Tarvet winning nine games was some achievement, and one in which every point was roared on by the home crowd. In the first set, he forced eight break points. In the second, he took one to go 2-0 up, repeating the feat to lead 3-2 in the third. Alcaraz, obviously, prevailed in the end, but Tarvet looks to be a name to remember. Elsewhere, rising Brazilian star Joao Fonseca was overcome with emotion after beating Jenson Brooksby 6-4 5-7 6-2 6-4. The teenager was noisily supported by his compatriots as he became the first Brazilian man to reach the third round since Thomaz Bellucci in 2010. "It's something to be proud of," said Fonseca, who is playing in his fourth tour-level event on grass. "I'm very happy the way that I've developed on this surface, I'm evolving. So I'm happy with it." Russian seeds Andrey Rublev (14) and Karen Khachanov (17) both came back from dropping the opening set to win, defeating South African Lloyd Harris and Japan's Shintaro Mochizuki in four and five sets respectively.
Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Norrie stuns Tiafoe on favourite Wimbledon patch
New Zealand-raised Cameron Norrie returned to his favourite patch of Wimbledon turf to stun American 12th seed Frances Tiafoe and reach the third round with a 4-6 6-4 6-3 7-5 win. Court One might lack the aura of the All England Club's historic Centre Court, but Norrie loves it, having won three matches there during his semifinal run in 2022. The chemistry was clear for all to see again on a mercifully fresh Wimbledon day as the world number 61 recovered from losing a tight first set to bamboozle a flat-looking Tiafoe. "I was really happy with the schedule when I saw I was on Court One as it's my favourite court," Norrie, who has reached the third round for the fourth time, said. "We both played high level but I stayed so calm and I really enjoyed the battle. The atmosphere was amazing." Norrie, 29, was one of seven home players who won their first-round singles matches on Monday — a British record of wins for a single day at Wimbledon in the professional era. All seven were back on Wednesday, with Sonay Kartal continuing the charge as she thrashed Bulgaria's Viktoriya Tomova 6-2 6-2 to book her place in the last 32. "Today was a good day at the office," she said. Norrie's reign as British number one was ended by Jack Draper, who he surprisingly beat on Court One last year in the second round, and he has struggled to reach the heights of 2021 when he won the Miami Open and 2022 when he lost to Novak Djokovic in the semifinals at Wimbledon. He lost in the first round of both his warm-up events on grass, but after an excursion on Court 18 on Monday, where he beat Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut, he was handed a Court One slot for his clash with Tiafoe. FREE-HITTING TIAFOE Initially it was the free-hitting Tiafoe who looked right at home, taking a tight opening set with a single break of serve. But everything changed at the end of the second. Norrie found himself in big trouble when serving at 4-4, going down 0-40. But he reeled off five points in a row to avert the danger and broke in the next game with a superb low backhand winner to snatch the set. Left-hander Norrie, who had never previously beaten a top-20 player at Wimbledon, bristled with energy in the third set, dictating the points as Tiafoe began to fade. Norrie failed to capitalise on one break of serve as he allowed Tiafoe to reply, but another break proved decisive as he moved to within one set of victory. Tiafoe left the court for seven minutes for a bathroom break before the start of the fourth set but Norrie refused to be thrown off his stride and broke serve for a 4-3 lead. Again Tiafoe responded, but Norrie was relentless as he again pounced on the American's serve before completing victory. Tiafoe's exit means 14 of the 32 men's seeds are out of the tournament less than halfway through the first week.
The Advertiser
28-05-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Djokovic pure gold back at site of Olympic triumph
Novak Djokovic tends to get what Novak Djokovic wants. For when you're setting out after a record-breaking 25th grand slam triumph on the court where you won your precious Olympic gold and you want that Court Philippe Chatrier roof closed, who is going to argue? Not French Open organisers, apparently, after the princely one made enough fuss about the spots of rain beginning to dampen the clay during the first set on Tuesday that they bowed to his master's voice. "At one point the supervisor told me, 'but they're playing everywhere on the outside courts in the same conditions'," explained Djokovic after going on to dismantle American Mackenzie McDonald 6-3 6-3 6-3 in his opener. "I said, 'yeah, but we are on the court with a roof. Why do you have the roof then? What's the point?' "In the end they closed the roof. I think it was better for everyone. For the players, for the stands, as well." Certainly better for him. Last year, Djokovic raged about the "slippery" court, blaming it for causing a torn media meniscus in his right knee. This time, moving sweetly and fresh from his 100th tournament win in Geneva, he just mesmerised his opponent. "He makes it seem like a video game, almost, for him," marvelled McDonald. "He's able to just do so much. I don't even think he was playing his best tennis or his highest level. But if I pushed him to a different point, he would bring the level up." While Djokovic was warning ominously that "I have a good feeling", Daniil Medvedev, who was Alex de Minaur's victim last year, most certainly didn't after a familiar flop, the 11th seed this time bowing out at the first hurdle to New Zealand-raised Briton Cameron Norrie 7-5 6-3 4-6 1-6 7-5. "He is so tough to beat, I think I deserve a diploma for beating Medvedev because he's beaten me the last four times. It was an unreal match," said Norrie. De Minaur may have kept half an eye on Jakub Mensik, the teenage Czech Miami Open champ, who again showed his mettle by handling the usual noisy baiting by a raucous home crowd supporting their local hope Alexandre Muller. Mensik, who could meet the Australian in the third round, sealed a 7-5 6-7 (5-7) 7-5 6-3 victory by celebrating exuberantly and winding up the crowd by pretending to conduct. His mentor Djokovic would have been proud. "Like Novak says, when sometimes the crowd is against him, I was repeating in my head when they were cheering or shouting Muller's name, I was trying to focus that they are actually shouting my name," said Mensik. The next teenage sensation to face this examination will be 18-year-old Brazilian wonder boy Joao Fonseca, who knocked out Poland's vastly experienced 30th seed Hubert Hurkacz 6-2 6-4 6-2 on his French Open debut to set up a date with French veteran Pierre-Hugues Herbert. At age 38, world No.42 Gael Monfils delighted home fans as he rallied from two sets down to beat Hugo Delien 4-6 3-6 6-1 7-6(6-4) 6-1, setting up a clash with fifth seed Jack Draper. Elsewhere, third seed Alexander Zverev defeated American Learner Tien in straight sets but veteran 16th seed Grigor Dimitrov retired due to injury when 6-2 6-3 2-6 ahead against American qualifier Ethan Quinn. Novak Djokovic tends to get what Novak Djokovic wants. For when you're setting out after a record-breaking 25th grand slam triumph on the court where you won your precious Olympic gold and you want that Court Philippe Chatrier roof closed, who is going to argue? Not French Open organisers, apparently, after the princely one made enough fuss about the spots of rain beginning to dampen the clay during the first set on Tuesday that they bowed to his master's voice. "At one point the supervisor told me, 'but they're playing everywhere on the outside courts in the same conditions'," explained Djokovic after going on to dismantle American Mackenzie McDonald 6-3 6-3 6-3 in his opener. "I said, 'yeah, but we are on the court with a roof. Why do you have the roof then? What's the point?' "In the end they closed the roof. I think it was better for everyone. For the players, for the stands, as well." Certainly better for him. Last year, Djokovic raged about the "slippery" court, blaming it for causing a torn media meniscus in his right knee. This time, moving sweetly and fresh from his 100th tournament win in Geneva, he just mesmerised his opponent. "He makes it seem like a video game, almost, for him," marvelled McDonald. "He's able to just do so much. I don't even think he was playing his best tennis or his highest level. But if I pushed him to a different point, he would bring the level up." While Djokovic was warning ominously that "I have a good feeling", Daniil Medvedev, who was Alex de Minaur's victim last year, most certainly didn't after a familiar flop, the 11th seed this time bowing out at the first hurdle to New Zealand-raised Briton Cameron Norrie 7-5 6-3 4-6 1-6 7-5. "He is so tough to beat, I think I deserve a diploma for beating Medvedev because he's beaten me the last four times. It was an unreal match," said Norrie. De Minaur may have kept half an eye on Jakub Mensik, the teenage Czech Miami Open champ, who again showed his mettle by handling the usual noisy baiting by a raucous home crowd supporting their local hope Alexandre Muller. Mensik, who could meet the Australian in the third round, sealed a 7-5 6-7 (5-7) 7-5 6-3 victory by celebrating exuberantly and winding up the crowd by pretending to conduct. His mentor Djokovic would have been proud. "Like Novak says, when sometimes the crowd is against him, I was repeating in my head when they were cheering or shouting Muller's name, I was trying to focus that they are actually shouting my name," said Mensik. The next teenage sensation to face this examination will be 18-year-old Brazilian wonder boy Joao Fonseca, who knocked out Poland's vastly experienced 30th seed Hubert Hurkacz 6-2 6-4 6-2 on his French Open debut to set up a date with French veteran Pierre-Hugues Herbert. At age 38, world No.42 Gael Monfils delighted home fans as he rallied from two sets down to beat Hugo Delien 4-6 3-6 6-1 7-6(6-4) 6-1, setting up a clash with fifth seed Jack Draper. Elsewhere, third seed Alexander Zverev defeated American Learner Tien in straight sets but veteran 16th seed Grigor Dimitrov retired due to injury when 6-2 6-3 2-6 ahead against American qualifier Ethan Quinn. Novak Djokovic tends to get what Novak Djokovic wants. For when you're setting out after a record-breaking 25th grand slam triumph on the court where you won your precious Olympic gold and you want that Court Philippe Chatrier roof closed, who is going to argue? Not French Open organisers, apparently, after the princely one made enough fuss about the spots of rain beginning to dampen the clay during the first set on Tuesday that they bowed to his master's voice. "At one point the supervisor told me, 'but they're playing everywhere on the outside courts in the same conditions'," explained Djokovic after going on to dismantle American Mackenzie McDonald 6-3 6-3 6-3 in his opener. "I said, 'yeah, but we are on the court with a roof. Why do you have the roof then? What's the point?' "In the end they closed the roof. I think it was better for everyone. For the players, for the stands, as well." Certainly better for him. Last year, Djokovic raged about the "slippery" court, blaming it for causing a torn media meniscus in his right knee. This time, moving sweetly and fresh from his 100th tournament win in Geneva, he just mesmerised his opponent. "He makes it seem like a video game, almost, for him," marvelled McDonald. "He's able to just do so much. I don't even think he was playing his best tennis or his highest level. But if I pushed him to a different point, he would bring the level up." While Djokovic was warning ominously that "I have a good feeling", Daniil Medvedev, who was Alex de Minaur's victim last year, most certainly didn't after a familiar flop, the 11th seed this time bowing out at the first hurdle to New Zealand-raised Briton Cameron Norrie 7-5 6-3 4-6 1-6 7-5. "He is so tough to beat, I think I deserve a diploma for beating Medvedev because he's beaten me the last four times. It was an unreal match," said Norrie. De Minaur may have kept half an eye on Jakub Mensik, the teenage Czech Miami Open champ, who again showed his mettle by handling the usual noisy baiting by a raucous home crowd supporting their local hope Alexandre Muller. Mensik, who could meet the Australian in the third round, sealed a 7-5 6-7 (5-7) 7-5 6-3 victory by celebrating exuberantly and winding up the crowd by pretending to conduct. His mentor Djokovic would have been proud. "Like Novak says, when sometimes the crowd is against him, I was repeating in my head when they were cheering or shouting Muller's name, I was trying to focus that they are actually shouting my name," said Mensik. The next teenage sensation to face this examination will be 18-year-old Brazilian wonder boy Joao Fonseca, who knocked out Poland's vastly experienced 30th seed Hubert Hurkacz 6-2 6-4 6-2 on his French Open debut to set up a date with French veteran Pierre-Hugues Herbert. At age 38, world No.42 Gael Monfils delighted home fans as he rallied from two sets down to beat Hugo Delien 4-6 3-6 6-1 7-6(6-4) 6-1, setting up a clash with fifth seed Jack Draper. Elsewhere, third seed Alexander Zverev defeated American Learner Tien in straight sets but veteran 16th seed Grigor Dimitrov retired due to injury when 6-2 6-3 2-6 ahead against American qualifier Ethan Quinn. Novak Djokovic tends to get what Novak Djokovic wants. For when you're setting out after a record-breaking 25th grand slam triumph on the court where you won your precious Olympic gold and you want that Court Philippe Chatrier roof closed, who is going to argue? Not French Open organisers, apparently, after the princely one made enough fuss about the spots of rain beginning to dampen the clay during the first set on Tuesday that they bowed to his master's voice. "At one point the supervisor told me, 'but they're playing everywhere on the outside courts in the same conditions'," explained Djokovic after going on to dismantle American Mackenzie McDonald 6-3 6-3 6-3 in his opener. "I said, 'yeah, but we are on the court with a roof. Why do you have the roof then? What's the point?' "In the end they closed the roof. I think it was better for everyone. For the players, for the stands, as well." Certainly better for him. Last year, Djokovic raged about the "slippery" court, blaming it for causing a torn media meniscus in his right knee. This time, moving sweetly and fresh from his 100th tournament win in Geneva, he just mesmerised his opponent. "He makes it seem like a video game, almost, for him," marvelled McDonald. "He's able to just do so much. I don't even think he was playing his best tennis or his highest level. But if I pushed him to a different point, he would bring the level up." While Djokovic was warning ominously that "I have a good feeling", Daniil Medvedev, who was Alex de Minaur's victim last year, most certainly didn't after a familiar flop, the 11th seed this time bowing out at the first hurdle to New Zealand-raised Briton Cameron Norrie 7-5 6-3 4-6 1-6 7-5. "He is so tough to beat, I think I deserve a diploma for beating Medvedev because he's beaten me the last four times. It was an unreal match," said Norrie. De Minaur may have kept half an eye on Jakub Mensik, the teenage Czech Miami Open champ, who again showed his mettle by handling the usual noisy baiting by a raucous home crowd supporting their local hope Alexandre Muller. Mensik, who could meet the Australian in the third round, sealed a 7-5 6-7 (5-7) 7-5 6-3 victory by celebrating exuberantly and winding up the crowd by pretending to conduct. His mentor Djokovic would have been proud. "Like Novak says, when sometimes the crowd is against him, I was repeating in my head when they were cheering or shouting Muller's name, I was trying to focus that they are actually shouting my name," said Mensik. The next teenage sensation to face this examination will be 18-year-old Brazilian wonder boy Joao Fonseca, who knocked out Poland's vastly experienced 30th seed Hubert Hurkacz 6-2 6-4 6-2 on his French Open debut to set up a date with French veteran Pierre-Hugues Herbert. At age 38, world No.42 Gael Monfils delighted home fans as he rallied from two sets down to beat Hugo Delien 4-6 3-6 6-1 7-6(6-4) 6-1, setting up a clash with fifth seed Jack Draper. Elsewhere, third seed Alexander Zverev defeated American Learner Tien in straight sets but veteran 16th seed Grigor Dimitrov retired due to injury when 6-2 6-3 2-6 ahead against American qualifier Ethan Quinn.
