Cameron Norrie has admitted he lost his focus before coming back from the brink of defeat to book a place in the Western & Southern Open semi-finals.
Trailing 3-1 by Spain’s third seed Carlos Alcaraz in the deciding third set, the Briton refused to succumb and eventually secured a 7-6(4) 6-7(4) 6-4 victory to set up a showdown in the last four. with Borna Coric in Cincinnati.
Norrie, who led 4-1 in the second set after winning the first, told the official ATP Tour website: “It was amazing. Credit to Carlos. I was ahead by a set and a break, 4-1, and kind of lost a bit of vision.
LINKED SEMI-FINALS ⚡️🇬🇧@cam_norrie wins battle against Carlos Alcaraz 7-6, 6-7, 6-4 to advance to Cincinnati! 💪@CincyTennis | #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/U7NdyIsQte
– ATP Tour (@atptour) August 20, 2022
“I was thinking a little too much about the finish line rather than focusing on how I was getting points and honestly I got a little tight and he raised his level, didn’t give me anything.”
Alcaraz, 19, who had beaten Norrie in each of their previous three meetings, including two this year, looked on course to complete a fourth when he trailed 3-1 in the third set after rejoining with the game. .
However, the 26-year-old, who had gotten rid of teenagers Holger Rune and Ben Shelton to advance to the quarter-finals, used his renowned strength to wear down a formidable opponent, breaking in the ninth game to set up earn it.
Norrie said: “I just wanted to stay tough on him and I think the only place I had improved him was the legs and the physique so I was just trying to make every rally as physical as possible and make it tough for him. arrival points.
Let’s go! @cam_norrie @CincyTennis | #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/WnB7KXuJvt
– ATP Tour (@atptour) August 20, 2022
“It’s tough because he can take the racquet completely out of your hand. When he dictates with the forehand, it’s really tough and you run a lot.
“I just had to try to get the ball in awkward positions on the pitch. I managed to serve well, I improved a lot in my previous matches.