CAM’S CLASH OF STYLES
Sign of times that Norrie is favourite to topple Rublev
CAM NORRIE is on song to silence Harry Styles superfan Andrey Rublev at the US Open.
And Davis Cup captain Leon Smith reckons the British No.1 is going in only one direction amid the noise in the Louis Armstrong Stadium today.
World No.11 Rublev is such a Styler he has twice been to see the British superstar in concert at Madison Square Garden. “I really like the show,” said the Russian. “I like music.”
The 24-year-old (inset) was even once part of a cover band which made music videos of One Direction songs.
But with a top-of-the-bill date with Rafa Nadal awaiting the winner, Smith warned Norrie has raised his performances since reaching the semifinals of his home Grand Slam.
The Scot said: “I think Wimbledon was huge for him
– the confidence he got from that is very significant.
“He has always had that focus in the last few years but now you mix that with the confidence he’s got and how he believes in himself, reaching the latter stages of Slams.
“Getting to the second week here is really good but he will want to go further again and will back himself. He is playing well enough.”
Unlike fellow British No.1 Emma Raducanu, Norrie has also benefited from working with his Argentine coach Facundo Lugones since 2017.
“The consistency of his team is really important and they have grown with him on this journey,” said Smith.
Norrie and Rublev are 1-1 in head-tohead clashes but the Brit won their last meeting in San Diego last year.
Smith, who will have Norrie leading his team in the Davis Cup in Glasgow next week, said: “It will be an extremely physical match, they have met a couple of times before, it’s good that Cam’s got a win against him.
“It could be a brutal match and long which is good for Cam. He can cause Rublev problems. But he is going to have to weather some storms as well because Rublev is that good.”
The Russian, who came through five tough sets against Denis Shapovalov said: “It’s going to be a tough match. Especially in our last meeting I lost to him.
“To beat him, you have to play really smart.”
Dan Evans had a rowdy fan ejected before being booted out of the US Open in four long sets to Marin Cilic.
The British No.2 said: “It was better that he left for everyone on the court. There were young kids around.”
No.2 seed Nadal reported that he is finding his form after winning his 18th consecutive match against Richard Gasquet. The Spanish superstar, who played only one match before New York after pulling out of Wimbledon, said: “It was an important improvement.”