Norrie ‘playing for free’ at Flushing Meadows after causing major upset
Cameron Norrie feel she is “playing for free” at the US Open as he prepares to try to reach the four th round of a grand slam for the first time.
The British No 3 has already produced his best performance at the majors by making the third round and looks to have a great chance togo further, with 99 th-ranked Spaniard Ale jan dr oD avi do vich Fokina his next opponent.
Norriepul led off the biggest upset of the first round by knocking out ninth seed Diego Schwartzman, coming from two sets down and saving two match points.
The victory came despite Norrie being unable to find his best form, and it was the same in the second round, in which the 25- year-old was a straight-sets winner over Federico Coria.
“I would have liked to play a little bit more free and more proactive,” said Norrie. “But I was good enough and I just want to keep building.
I could easily have shanked a fore hand on match point against Schwartz man and been out of the tournament so I’ m out here playing for free, and I’m quite fortunate to get through to the third round.”
Norrie impressed during the Battle of the Brits events played in London earlier this summer and is most happy with the mental strength he has shown so far.
His match against Schwartzman featured a US Open record 58 break points, and across his two matches he has saved an impressive 32 break points.
He feels experience is helping, and he will hope that proves the case again against 21-year-old Davidovich Fokina, who had only won one maindraw match at a slam prior to this week.
Norrie said :“I always believed and I always had a good attitude and compete dwell. I just feel al ittleb it more settled and a little bit more experienced when I’m serving for these sets, thinking, ‘I’ve done this before’.
“I think I’m more ready than ever. I’ve never played some of my best tennis at slams so it’s nice to get through and I think the five-set format suits me well.”