Cameron Norrie’s Australian Open run ended in disappointment as he fell to Germany’s Alexander Zverev in four sets, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, in a third-round contest at Melbourne Park. With this result, Britain’s representation in the singles draw concluded, following earlier exits for Emma Raducanu, Katie Boulter, Francesca Jones, Arthur Fery, Jacob Fearnley, and Sonay Kartal.
Norrie, seeded 26th, began the match with high intensity, attacking from the baseline and moving aggressively to the net. He quickly secured a break in the second game, signalling his intent to challenge Zverev’s dominance. Early exchanges showcased Norrie’s agility and tactical variety, combining precise drop shots with deep, penetrating groundstrokes.
The opening set initially featured an exchange of breaks, but then devolved into a series of holds until 5-5, when Zverev gained the decisive advantage. A critical lapse from Norrie, including a forehand wide and a missed smash volley, handed Zverev the first set. Zverev, the third seed, maintained exceptional serving efficiency, landing 75% of his first serves and winning 77% of those points, keeping the Brit under constant pressure.
Norrie responded in the second set, holding serve through a tense game that saw him save three break points. Aggressive returns eventually earned him the set, levelling the match at 1-1. Yet, the momentum shifted decisively in the third set as Norrie’s errors mounted. A double fault on set point and a well-placed lob from Zverev allowed the German to regain control.
From there, Zverev dictated play, delivering 16 aces and conceding only five break points. The fourth set proved one-sided, with Norrie unable to stem Zverev’s relentless power and precision. Despite a brief fightback, Zverev closed the match comfortably, advancing to the fourth round to face Francisco Cerundolo.
Reflecting on the contest, Norrie said:
“I think it’s another bit of experience to push yourself in those moments… I know I can hang with him for two hours 30, and I dropped after that. They’re used to playing at that level for long periods.”
He emphasised the positives, noting his progress over the past year:
“I can’t be any more happy where I am… I’m healthy, I’m feeling confident, I have a great team, there’s no stress anywhere else in my life. So I’m enjoying everything, and I think that’s so much fun to come to these slams, play these matches, and just compete as hard as I can.”
This defeat marks Norrie’s seventh loss in seven tour-level encounters against Zverev, highlighting a persistent challenge in overcoming top-ranked opponents. Nevertheless, the Brit’s performance demonstrated grit and strategic awareness, reinforcing his status as a consistent contender at Grand Slam events, capable of challenging elite players even in defeat.
Currently, Norrie sits at No. 25 in the live rankings, a significant rise from earlier struggles last season, reflecting his improvement and potential for further progress in upcoming tournaments.
