US Open: Cameron Norrie loses in straight sets to Matteo Arnaldi in third round, leaving Jack Draper as the only British man left in the singles draw
- Arnaldi trained with Andy Murray in the Hamptons before the US Open began
- Norrie’s lost three 1st rounds since Wimbledon, where he lost in the 4th round
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Cam Norrie’s US Open hopes were left withering in the American sunshine when he got ambushed by rapidly emerging talent Matteo Arnaldi last night at the US Open.
The British number one was well beaten, 6-3 6-4 6-3 by the world number 61, who prepared for this tournament by practicing with Andy Murray on private courts up in the Hamptons.
Murray will doubtless have been aware of how good the 22 year-old is, because he outplayed Norrie to gain a place in the last sixteen at Flushing Meadows, where his opponent would be the winner between Dan Evans and Carlos Alcaraz.
Arnaldi played a grueling five setter in the second round versus Frenchman Arthur Fils, and Norrie would have been hoping to grind him down in the manner that he has done to so many opponents in recent years.
The Italian, however, looked perfectly fresh and backed up the prophecy of those in Italian tennis who reckon him to be the next nugget off what is becoming something of a production line.
Cam Norrie’s US Open hopes were left withering with a defeat in the third round Saturday
Matteo Arnaldi practiced with Andy Murray in the Hamptons before the start of the US Open
He has an extremely well rounded game that sees him play in all areas of the court, and the world number 16 was unable to find a way to penetrate his defenses.
Norrie has not had a great summer, and came in having lost three first rounds since Wimbledon.
He has not managed to replicate his excellent early form of the season but with two wins in New York has at least picked up some form.
He did manage to get ahead with a break of serve early in the second set as British tennis reveled in the unusual position of having three men playing in the third round of a Grand Slam concurrently, with Evans and jack Draper occupied elsewhere in the stadium.
The highly mobile Arnaldi never let him get away, however, and was to allow him just one break point in the whole match.
The Italian hit 37 winners and while Norrie served with consistency he could never muster enough pressure.