Cam Norrie beats Japan’s Yasuke Watanuki 6-4 7-6 to keep Great Britain’s hopes at Madrid Open alive

British singles hopes at the Madrid Open were still alive last night, with Cam Norrie putting GB finally on the board.

His 6-4 7-6 win over Japan’s Yasuke Watanuki to make the third round came after what has been a week of setbacks for the home contingent. A wider lack of progress saw experienced national number two Dan Evans question whether some of his compatriots are willing to put in the hard yards and play enough tournaments.

Following an encouraging spread of wins at this same event twelve months ago, Norrie prevented the Brit wipeout that was seen at the most recent of these big combined tournaments, last month’s Miami Open.

Evans also drew attention to the qualifying, which saw just one British player entered, Jodie Burrage, who made the second round.

‘You can win and lose matches in the main draw. If people are in the main draw that’s great, but I mean the qualies was pretty bad,’ said the 32 year-old Midlander, who had found himself overpowered 6-3 6-2 by Spanish clay court expert Bernabe Zapata Miralles.

‘That’s the issue I think. It’s pretty well bare in that ranking spot and there are people choosing not to play. I think (our) players need to compete more week in week out. They need to get out on the road and just get after it. It’s not there’s great science behind it. It can be hard on the tour but you need to be at it.’

Following Emma Raducanu’s latest withdrawal, next week will be the first time in 15 years that Britain will not have a female in the world’s top 100.

Evans wondered out loud why some of them are not seeking more competitive opportunities: ‘We’re picking and choosing what tournaments we play, and we’re ranked 200 in the world – I’m not going to bag the girls here but no one played after (the Billie Jean King Cup). 

‘There’s some cultural thing about resting and all that. It’s not new. Maybe they’ve got too much money or something.’

He knows of what he speaks when it comes to putting in the miles. Incredibly he has not been home since finishing playing the Battle of the Brits event just before Christmas, which then saw him travel straight to Australia from Aberdeen.

After yesterday’s defeat he will finally get to sleep in his own bed before heading to the Italian Open in Rome.

Evans has been the only Brit to make any impression on the clay so far this year, making the semi-finals of main tour events in Morocco and Barcelona, which looked to have left him spent.

He cited Norrie as someone who has also paid their dues in trying to maximise their ability.

‘I think Cam gets a bit under underestimated with his skill and stuff, a lot of people say he’s worked hard and he stays calm and everything.

‘But the main reason (he’s successful) is that he’s learned his trade by playing his matches and being in competitive situations. And that’s how he’s got good. 

‘He’s not got good on the practice court. Yes, it’s helped, but he plays his tournaments, sticks to his schedule, he’s never injured touch wood. How that’s not a blueprint is beyond me, basically.

‘I’m never going to say I’m a blueprint although maybe it’s better to look at a player (like me) who’s 30 in the world. James Ward, when he made it to 80 in the world, he was playing week in week out Challengers, Futures events, that is no secret.’

GB had four players in the Madrid third round a year ago (Evans, Norrie, Andy Murray and Raducanu) with Jack Draper showing his promise in gaining a top 30 win to make the second. 

Raducanu has managed to play three events since mid-January and will now find herself one of six GB women ranked between 100 and 170.