Cameron Norrie is out of the Monte Carlo Masters after the world No 10 lost in three sets to Spain’s Albert Ramos-Viñolas, while Dan Evans also lost in the second round, to David Goffin of Belgium.
Norrie, the British No 1, who received a bye in the first round as the seventh seed, recovered from a set and a break down to force a decider, with his opponent seemingly struggling with an abdominal injury.
However, Ramos-Viñolas fought back to win 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 in two hours and 32 minutes, the eighth victory of his career against a player ranked in the world’s top 10. The world No 37 has now won all four of his matches on clay against Norrie, whose only victory against the Spaniard came on grass at Queen’s last year.
Norrie saved a break point in the opening game of the match with the aid of two aces, but was broken in the seventh game and was unable to convert his only break point of the set as Ramos-Viñolas served it out.
Ramos-Viñolas then broke in the opening game of the second set and held serve to lead 2-0, only for Norrie to rattle off the next six games in a row, including three breaks of serve, to set up a decider.
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After taking a painkiller for his injury, Ramos-Viñolas rediscovered his best form in the final set and one break of serve was enough to secure a rollercoaster win.
“We always have good matches and he’s in the top 10 so for me today it’s a great win,” Ramos-Viñolas said. “I started off well and was 2-0 up in the second set but tennis is like this. I lost seven [games] in a row but somehow I start to play good and I’m happy to be in the next round.”
Evans lost in straight sets. The British No 2 saved five break points in the opening set before Goffin won the tie-break, with the world No 47 then breaking three times in the second on his way to a 7-6 (5), 6-2 victory.
