Cameron Norrie’s sunscreen warpaint complemented his battling spirit in this scintillating five-setter, the longest contest of his career. Sadly, that alone was not enough as the British No 1’s absorbing run at the Australian Open ended in heartache against Alexander Zverev.
We were treated to a new Norrie en route to this fourth-round defeat in Melbourne, a risk-taker different from the baseline grinder we had been used to.
His fresh attacking approach was on show over four hours and five minutes on Margaret Court Arena on Monday – not including the stoppage when a protestor made it rain ‘Free Palestine’ flyers, as the Australian Open’s laissez-faire security left it to spectators to evict her instead.
At one stage in the deciding set, Norrie was three points from becoming the first Brit in the Australian Open’s quarter-finals since Kyle Edmund in 2018.
Ultimately, it was so close yet so far as Zverev showed his superiority in the first-to-10 tiebreak to claim a 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 victory. The German No 6 seed, 26, will face Carlos Alcaraz next.
Cameron Norrie is determined to crack the top 10 following his five-set defeat in Melbourne
Alexander Zverev won another match at the Australian Open in a deciding fifth set tie-break
‘This is exactly where I want to be,’ said Norrie.
‘I’m looking for ways to evolve my game. I went toe-to-toe with him. There’s still lots to come. I’m 28 years old.
‘You look at the longevity of the others, they are getting better. I want to keep pushing, keep improving.
‘I know I’ve got the top-10 level in me. I want to keep taking steps towards that and I’m having fun playing.’
World No 22 Norrie can take comfort in how he pushed Zverev, who had won all four of their previous clashes without dropping a set. Putting early pressure on the Brit, Zverev opted to receive first after winning the coin toss.
Norrie finished 56 points at the net in his third-round win over Casper Ruud – more than his previous two matches combined as he looked like a left-handed Tim Henman volleying his way to victory – and he held serve in this opening game with the same approach.
Zverev responded with a hold to love in one minute and 40 seconds, less time than it takes to boil a kettle.
At 5-5, Norrie struggled on serve as he slapped a forehand into the net to gift the German the break, which Zverev consolidated to claim a cagey first set.
Norrie showed his best tennis in the second set, though it took Zverev breaking for a 3-2 lead to bring it out of the left-hander.
Norrie’s newfound urgency surprised the German, who lost four games in succession, the net cord helping the Brit as the match was levelled.
Norrie was the author of his own downfall in the third set as a loose game out of nowhere allowed Zverev to break.
Play was then paused as it began to rain. Not water, but ‘Free Palestine’ flyers. The papers thrown by the protestor were easier to remove than the jigsaw pieces which plagued Wimbledon last year, thankfully. At 5-3, Zverev held his nerve and serve to secure the set.
Norrie deserves huge credit for pushing Zverev all the way but lacked the killer instinct at the very end of the match
Norrie and Zverev embrace at the net after a pulsating fourth-round encounter
Earlier on a protester hurled flyers in support of a ‘Free Palestine’ during Monday’s match
Staff stooped to clear the leaflets off the verge during a break in play on Margaret Court Arena
Leading 5-4 in the fourth, Norrie secured two break points, striking the winner after pulling Zverev out of position. Cue the London bus analogy – Norrie had waited his whole career to win one set against Zverev, then two came at once.
Melbourne is getting used to marathon matches. This was the 32nd five-setter this year, breaking the Open era record for the event – 31 in 1998.
Norrie and Zverev traded blows at the start of the deciding set with a break apiece, holding serve from then on to set up the decisive tiebreak. It felt a fitting finale. First to 10. Winner takes all.
Zverev had won all four of his tiebreaks at this Australian Open and showed that same ruthlessness here.
Norrie helped him by making mistakes, including an overeagerness to try drop shots and a double fault, his second of the match coming at a most costly moment.
At 9-3, Zverev had six match points. Only one was needed as Norrie sent a defensive forehand into the net, losing out on the opportunity to face No 2 seed Alcaraz of Spain on Wednesday.
Nevertheless, this was a valiant effort from the Brit, whose new aggressive approach will make him a much more feared proposition at Grand Slams to come, including this summer’s Wimbledon.