British tennis player Cameron Norrie suffered a shock defeat in the second round of the Madrid Open, despite not facing a single break point in the match. Norrie, seeded 11th, took the first set 6-2 against China’s Zhizhen Zhang and looked to be in control of the match.
However, he missed several opportunities to break Zhang’s serve in the second set and was eventually defeated in a closely-fought tie-break. Despite the loss, Norrie can take some positives from the match, including his strong serve and his ability to avoid being broken by his opponent.
Zhang, ranked 99th in the world, played some impressive tennis to come back from a set down and secure his place in the last 16 of the tournament. He was particularly strong on his serve, winning 27 consecutive points to establish a rhythm and build confidence.
His ability to hold his nerve in the tie-breaks was also a key factor in his victory. Zhang will now face American Taylor Fritz in the next round, while Norrie will be left to reflect on a missed opportunity to advance further in the tournament.
