Cameron Norrie of the UK notched his initial triumph since the US Open in September, overcoming Arthur Cazaux of France via a tie-break in the deciding set at the Shanghai Masters.
The second-highest ranked British male player was defeated by Novak Djokovic in the third stage at Flushing Meadows and subsequently faced consecutive losses in Chengdu and Beijing.
However, Norrie’s fortunes changed in China, where the ATP Tour veteran, with five titles to his name, secured a seesaw 6-3, 0-6, 7-6 (7-5) victory against the world’s 70th-ranked player.
Norrie, seeded 30th and ranked 33rd globally, showcased his vast experience, effortlessly securing the initial set with a pair of breaks, committing a mere four unforced errors, and rarely conceding a point on his serve.
Nevertheless, Cazaux, aged 23, displayed renewed energy in the second set, claiming an early break of serve before handing Norrie only his seventh ‘bagel’ defeat – a 6-0 scoreline – of his entire career.
The British competitor responded strongly in the third, once again demonstrating greater cleverness than his younger adversary, using his left-handed serve to regain a degree of command.
Neither player managed to significantly challenge their opponent’s serve, as they contended with oppressive heat and humidity, but a double fault by Cazaux at the third point of the tie-break ultimately determined the outcome of the two-hour contest.
Following a bye in the first round, Norrie’s initial victory at a Masters 1000 tournament since his clay-court triumph in Rome in May positioned him for a third-round encounter with Learner Tien, a 19-year-old American.
