Cameron Norrie admitted to experiencing pre-match nerves after preventing his approach into the final 16 of the Delray Seashore Open with a 7-5 6-4 win over American qualifier Zachary Svajda.
Norrie, who received the Florida match in 2022, has struggled on laborious courts to this point this season however emerged from a torrid opening to seal a welcome win in temperatures approaching 30 levels.
The British No 2 break up 4 breaks of serve within the first six video games together with his opponent, however grabbed an extra break within the twelfth sport to take the set.
Svajda recovered an early break within the second to threaten to take Norrie right into a third-set decider, however the British participant hit again to arrange a last-16 conflict with both Gabriel Diallo or French ninth seed Arthur Rinderknech.
“I’m very satisfied,” mentioned Norrie in his on-court interview after the match.
“It’s totally uncomfortable out right here. The Florida warmth is attending to me a bit bit.
“My first match outdoor shortly and I used to be fairly nervous coming in. I used to be not transferring my toes that properly however I used to be actually pleased with how I completed each the units taking part in my finest degree, and that is what counted.
“I was not playing great and Zach made it difficult. He doesn’t give you much energy so it was tough to push but I was happy with how I finished the match, most importantly.”
Norrie performed the clay-court tournaments of Buenos Aires and Rio after the Australian Open earlier than Indian Wells in each 2023 and 2024 however this time has already performed Dallas – the place he misplaced within the second spherical final week to Reilly Opelka after squandering a one-set benefit – earlier than arriving on Florida’s east coast.
“I’m skipping the clay this year, I was grinding out there in South America so I was hoping it was going to be slightly easier conditions here, but it wasn’t. I’m sweating just as much as I would in South America!” he mentioned.
“But nice to be on the hard courts and happy to get the win in a tough match.
“I believe it is necessary to get wins like this the place you are very nervous and also you’re actually uncomfortable, so very completely satisfied to get a win like that. Not likely feeling my finest and not likely practising properly since I received right here so I can take plenty of confidence from that.
“Relax [on Tuesday], hopefully enjoy the beach a little bit and get ready for my match on Wednesday.”
Watch the ATP and WTA Excursions, in addition to the US Open in New York, dwell on Sky Sports activities in 2025. Not received Sky? Get Sky Sports activities or stream with no contract on NOW.
