Norrie suffers a cruel defeat

SCOT Cameron Norrie suffered an agonising defeat to Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena in the second round of the Millennium Estoril Open in Portugal.

The British No 3 was looking to make his first ATP Tour quarterfinal and led 5-2 in the deciding set before holding a match point in the 10th game — but Carballes Baena fought back to win 5-7 6-2 7-6 (7/1).

His first-round victory over sixth seed Robin Haase might yet be enough to see 22-year-old Norrie break into the top 100 on Monday only a year after turning professional.

British No 1 Kyle Edmund plays Portugal’s Joao Sousa in the last eight later today.

DEFENDING champ Alexander Zverev moved into the quarterfinals of the BMW Open in Munich having come from behind to beat fellow German Yannick Hanfmann.

The top seed and world No 3 bounced back after wildcard Hanfmann, ranked 118th in the world, won the first set via a lengthy tiebreaker.

Zverev eventually posted a 6-7 (12/14) 6-4 6-2 victory and will face another compatriot in the next round in Jan-Lennard Struff, who beat another German, Yannick Maden, 6-3 3-6 6-3.

SERENA Williams has withdrawn from next week’s Madrid Open.

The 23-time grand slam champion suffered early exits at Indian Wells and Miami in her only two competitive outings this year following a 14-month lay-off to give birth to daughter Alexis Olympia.

Williams has not been seen on the WTA Tour since losing to Naomi Osaka in the first round in Miami and has decided she needs more preparation time to compete on clay.

Organiser Manolo Santana said: “We regret the absence of Serena.”