LYON KING CAM RULES OVER ISNER
CAMERON NORRIE warmed up for next week’s French Open by reaching his first-ever ATP semi-final in Lyon.
The British No.3 showed a love for clay by winning his first-ever professional match on the red dirt on his Davis Cup debut against Spain in February.
And the South African-born, New Zealand-raised rookie yesterday recorded his maiden win over a top-10 player by beating No.2 seed John Isner 7-6 6-4 in 85 minutes.
“I’m so stoked with my performance,” said Norrie, whose father is Scottish and his mother Welsh.
“In the past, I haven’t been so good at playing guys with big serves.
“I remember watching Isner when I was younger. He was a big idol of mine. It’s crazy to be competing against guys like that now.
“I am playing my best tennis and I have qualified for my first ATP semi-final – I am super happy.”
Norrie will today face France’s Gilles Simon (below), but the 22-year-old is already guaranteed to break into the top 100 on Monday.
He was drawn to face Germany’s world No.49 Peter Gojowczyk in his first-ever match at Roland Garros, while British No.1 Kyle Edmund will play teenage Aussie Alex de Minaur.
Jo Konta will play Kazakh world No.93 Yulia Putintseva in the first round, while fellow Brit Heather Watson takes on world No.133 Oceane Dodin of France.
Two unseeded former world No.1s will return at Roland Garros – and could face intriguing early matches.
World No. 453 Serena Williams, who attended the royal wedding in Windsor last Saturday, will play her first Grand Slam match as a mother against world No.70 Kristyna Pliskova.
But the American superstar could face her old enemy Maria Sharapova, who also missed the French Open last year, in the fourth round.
And Victoria Azarenka could face defending champion Jelena Ostapenko in the second round. Top seed Simona Halep has an opening-round match against American Alison Riske.
Rafael Nadal will begin his pursuit of an 11th French title against Ukraine’s Alexandr Dolgopolov.