Every cloud has a silver lining, Norrie
HUMBLED IN FINAL BUT HE IS NOW SEEDED AT SW19
CAMERON NORRIE will be seeded at Wimbledon for the first time as compensation for losing his third final of the year at Queen’s yesterday.
His opponent, Italian Matteo Berrettini, announced himself as a genuine contender for SW19 by completing a hat-trick of home scalps with a 6-4 6-7 6-3 win over British No.2 Norrie in a superb display.
The big-serving world No.9 had blown away Andy Murray and Dan Evans in earlier rounds.
But Norrie’s run to this final in the best year of his career will see him rise to world No.34 and secure the 30th seed at Wimbledon next week.
Along with Evans, they are the first pair of British men to be seeded in the same year at their home Grand Slam since Greg Rusedski and Tim Henman in 2002.
“It’s obviously special to be seeded” said
Norrie.
“I’m obviously disappointed not to get the title here but we’ll keep pushing for more and hopefully there’ll be many more chances to come. “Definitely a week like this helps to feel like you’re ready for Wimbledon, and especially on the movement side of things on the grass.
“It was massive for me to obviously make the final and then to pick up that seeding knowing that you’re not going to get drawn against one of the top guys to start is another bonus. “There are a lot of positives from the week so I’m looking forward toWimbledon and seeing the crowds back again like this week.” Norrie, who also reached finals in Lyon and Estoril in the past two months, was seeking to become only the second Briton after Murray to win at Queen’s since the SecondWorldWar.
But No.1 seed Berrettini fired down 19 aces and did not face a break point as he won the fifth and biggest title of his career.
He is the first man to win on his debut in West London since a 17-year-old Boris Becker in 1985.
“It’s been an unbelievable week and to think of Boris Becker’s name and my name is crazy,” said Berrettini.
Becker went on to win the first of his three Wimbledon titles that summer.
There will be two big finals in London on July 11 with Italy also among the favourites for Euro 2020 football glory, and Berrettini said: “I hope we can have two Italian wins.
“It would be such an historic day, but there is a long way to go for both of us.”
There was success for Britain when Gordon Reid won the wheelchair singles final 6-2 6-2 against Argentina’s Gustavo Fernandez.