Cameron Norrie boosts ATP Finals hopes after beating American Reilly Opelka in straight sets to make the last-16 of the Paris Masters in 50th victory of the year
- The 26-year-old Brit beat American Reilly Opelka in straight sets (6-3, 6-4)
- In doing so he became just the third Brit this century to hit 50 wins in a year
- He follows Tim Henman and Andy Murray who also achieved the feat
- He is looking to secure one of two remaining qualifying spots for the ATP Finals
- Norrie almost certainly has to reach the quarter-finals to have a chance
A 50th victory of the year for Cameron Norrie kept alive his hopes of qualifying for this month’s ATP Tour Finals.
The 26-year-old saw off American Reilly Opelka in straight sets (6-3, 6-4) to make the last-16 of the Paris Masters in what was his 50th victory of the current calendar year.
In doing so, he became just the third British player this century to reach that landmark figure, following Tim Henman and Andy Murray.
Cameron Norrie (pictured on Monday) has advanced to the last 16 of the Paris Masters with a straight sets victory
He follows Tim Henman and Andy Murray as the only British players this century to reach 50 wins in a calendar year
The British No1 and tournament No10 seed is hoping to keep alive his hopes of qualifying for this month’s ATP Tour finals.
Norrie is aiming for a deep run in Paris to potentially land one of the two remaining spots at the eight-man season-ending finals, which gets underway on 14 November.
Victory over Opelka improves his chances of making the eight-man field that will compete in Turin.
Norrie is hoping to secure a spot at the season-ending ATP Tour finals in Turin this month
He almost certainly has to reach the quarter-finals at this week’s points-rich event, the penultimate tournament of the regular season and hope for other results to go his way.
Norrie is essentially part of a five-horse race for the final two spots to make it to Turin with Hubert Hurkacz, Italian Jannik Sinner, Norwegian Casper Ruud and Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, who he crashed out to in Vienna.
The Indian Well champion sits in 11th behind Rudd, Sinner and Hurkacz with Auger-Aliassime close behind in 12th.
He will have to rely on his opponents slipping up, unless he can tear all the way to the weekend.
The Briton faces another American for a place in the quarter-finals in Taylor Fritz, who knocked out No5 seed Andrey Rublev earlier in the day.
Fritz, earned his third straight victory against a top-10 opponent with a 7-5 7-6 (7-2) win against Rublev.