CAM GOES IT ALONE
British pals tumble out
CAM NORRIE was left to carry the Union Jack – and marvel at Andy Murray – after yet another day of British singles failure in Paris.
Jo Konta and Heather Watson yesterday joined Dan Evans in losing in the first round at Roland Garros.
But Norrie became the first British singles player to win there since 2019 when he beat American qualifier Bjorn Fratangelo 7-5 7-6 6-2.
The nation’s No.2 was also the last Brit standing by reaching the third round at the US and Australian Opens – and is on course to meet Rafa Nadal at the same stage on Friday.
Norrie, who has reached two finals on clay this season, will first seek a 25th win of a super season against South African Lloyd Harris tomorrow.
But yesterday the 25-year-old was a rare ray of British sunshine on a cloudless day in the French capital.
He said: “I would obviously like the others to come through but I guess I’m gonna have to lead the nation’s flag and just go out and play my tennis.”
Murray was one of six British players to lose in the first round last September. But for years the Scot covered up the poor state of British tennis by reaching 26 consecutive fourth rounds in Grand Slams between 2011 and 2017.
“It’s incredible how impressive that is,” added Norrie. “It’s just amazing how consistent he was. What a legend the guy is.”
Evans warned he would lose in the first round of Wimbledon if he repeated his Paris display in SW19 and the same could be said of Britain’s top two female players yesterday. Konta, the No.19 seed, is set to drop outside the world’s top 30 after going down 7-6 6-2 to world No.54 Sorean Cirstea.
She has now won only one match in her last five Grand Slams.
Konta (inset) said: “Out of
128 players, 64 are losing in the first round, so it’s going to happen that they can be from the same nation.”
British No.2 Watson was 4-2 up in both sets but suffered a 6-4 7-5 loss to 93rd-ranked Zarina Diyas.
The 29-year-old, who has previously complained about a lack of depth, added: “When you’ve got more competition, it pushes you more.”