One in, One out – Brits in the Second Round of the Australian Open

Credit: Australian Open

Two Brits were left in the Second Round of the Australian Open, Heather Watson, and Cameron Norrie. Norrie progressed, whilst Watson was knocked out, despite her battling display.

Both matches were filled with twists, turns and drama throughout. They were also very good battling performances from both, who had to overcome many things throughout the game, including the weather!

Cameron Norrie

After beating his compatriot, Dan Evans, in the first round, Norrie had his eyes on a spot in the third round. His victory in four sets against Russian, Roman Safiullin, means that he has made it to the third round of the US, and now the Australian Open, in the last six months.

He overcame Safiullin in four sets. After losing the opening set, he went on a charge to win, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3). The game was not without it’s hiccups, as early in the fourth set, at 1-1, rain meant that the players were forced off-court. Eventually, they were able to play indoors to conclude the match. As the scoreline suggests, it was a tight affair, with each player looking like they could win.

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The rain delay slowed Norrie’s rhythm, and meant that the fourth set was extremely close. At 5-5, Norrie earnt a well deserved break, but Safiullin came out strong to break back, setting up the tie-break. Norrie ran away with it, and with it, gained his place in the next round, where he will face the small hurdle, of Rafa Nadal.

Heather Watson

Watson faced the 21st seed, Anett Kontaveit, in the women’s second round. It was a close first an second set, before the Estonian took control to see out the match. Watson had a fight on her hands, after trailing in the first set 4-1, and then 5-2. She fought back to take the set to a tie-break, which she won 7-5.

The second set was as tight as the first, but Kontaveit hit a rich vein of form, to break serve late on. This form continued in the third set, where Kontaveit put the game to bed, winning 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 6-2.

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Watson took heart from the performance: