Cameron Norrie set up his first meeting with Jannik Sinner after putting up a fight with a 7-5, 7-6 (7-5) victory over Thiago Agustín Tirante in the fourth round of the Madrid Open on Sunday.
Norie has faced Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic many times, but strangely he has never played against world No. 1 Sinner.
That will change on Tuesday, when the 30-year-old looks to end Sinner’s 19-game winning streak and reach the quarter-finals for the first time in Madrid.
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Cameron Norrie shares his reaction after defeating Thiago Agustín Tirante at the Madrid Open to set up a match against Jannik Sinner
“I’m excited to play against him (Sinner) but he beats me to pieces every time we practice,” Norrie told Sky Sports.
“He’s probably the most confident player in tennis right now, but I’m just going to play my game. It’s going to be difficult to play against him, but I’m looking forward to it.”
Norie survived a nearly three-hour battle with Tomas Machak in the second round, and despite being competitive in both matches, was able to defeat the big-serving Tirante in straight sets.
It was a match with few chances, but Norrie converted his third break chance in the 12th game of the first set with a backhand winner and then squandered his first match point in a tense second set tie-break.
Tirante, ranked 75th in the world, served 149 mph in the sixth game but was unable to create a break point on Nolley’s serve.
Gauff battles illness to reach last 16 in Madrid
World No. 3 Coco Gauff battled more than just an opponent at the Madrid Open on Sunday, overcoming illness to beat Solana Cirstea and reach the last 16.
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Madrid Open Round of 32 highlights between Solana Cirstea and Coco Gauff
Despite Gauff suffering from a stomach virus and vomiting into a trash can midway through the second set, she fought back to win 4-6, 7-5, 6-1.
Several players appear to be battling glitches at the tournament, including six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek, who said she had “zero consistency and zero energy” after retiring from her match against Ang Lee on Saturday.
“To be honest, I was trying to finish the match and one point turned into another,” said Gauff, who was runner-up in Madrid and Rome last year and then won the French Open.
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Coco Gauff shares her thoughts on beating Solana Cirstea at the Madrid Open, despite overcoming illness throughout the match
“Unfortunately, I think I understand what other people are feeling here in Madrid, so we just have to work hard for tomorrow.”
Gauff added: “I felt weird today. I don’t know how I got through it.
“I’m not the type of person who likes to pass, so I didn’t want to pass today either. I’m glad I was able to get through.”
Gauff hopes to recover in time for her fourth-round match against 13th seed Linda Noskova.
The Czech benefited from Sunday’s bye, but 20th seed Liudmila Samsonova also appeared to be the latest victim of the virus, unable to take to the court.
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