Cameron Norrie has gained revenge on Carlos Alcaraz by profitable the Rio Open and claiming his fifth ATP Tour title after a breathless closing.
The Spaniard received the higher of Norrie in final week’s Argentina Open closing in Buenos Aires, however the British No.1 hit again in model on Sunday.
The sequel was higher than the unique on the Brazilian clay in a match that had twists and turns all through.
Norrie regarded in bother as he was a set and a break down however staged a formidable comeback to win 5-7 6-4 6-4.
Alacaraz, who gained the 2022 title in Rio, was carrying a thigh harm however was nonetheless enjoying sufficient top quality tennis for this to be classed as a giant scalp for Norrie.
It is a second title on clay for the Brit and first of 2023.
“It’s so special to win this one, I have lost a couple of finals this year,” he stated on Prime Video.
“I had to do it the tough way, I was a set and a break down and I was looking done but I managed to flick a switch and turn it around, so it was a good day.”
The Briton saved a set level at 4-5 with a searing cross-court forehand, however the Spaniard got here again for extra in Norrie’s following service recreation and this time received the break that sealed the primary set.
The writing regarded on the wall for the world No.13 as Alcaraz raced right into a 3-0 lead within the second set, however that’s the place issues received attention-grabbing.
Norrie stopped the rot by holding serve after which went on to win the subsequent three video games to assert an unlikely 4-3 lead.
Alcaraz, who missed the Australian Open with a leg harm, was up for the struggle and hit again on Norrie’s serve, just for the Brit to win the next two video games and take the set 6-4.
It was a topsy-turvy dramatic decider, which swung each methods over 56 enthralling minutes.
With Alcaraz’s health issues seeing him undertake a gung-ho method, there have been 4 breaks of serve within the opening six video games earlier than Norrie turned the aggressor.
Some fearless hitting, combined in with an array of deft drop pictures, noticed the world No.2 repeatedly fend off break factors within the closing a part of the set as Norrie looked for a decisive breakthrough.
It ultimately got here within the eleventh recreation and Norrie served it out with an ace to assert a memorable win and spectacular piece of silverware.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
