Norrie and Raducanu hold court in Spain and Germany
No 1 Cameron Norrie booked his place in the quarter-finals of the Barcelona Open with a straight-sets win over home favourite Roberto Bautista Agut.
Norrie secured the 200th tour-level victory of his career with a 6-4 6-3 success in one hour and 24 minutes and will face Tomas Etcheverry in the last eight this morning.
“On the score it was easy but it was a lot of tough points in there," Norrie said in a courtside interview.
“I was really pleased how I handled myself when serving for the first set.
“I had a couple of tough games at the end of the second set there and played a good game to break as well so I was very, very solid and I converted the points when I was aggressive.
“I felt like I was moving well and I was pleased with my footwork.”
Norrie gained an early break in each set and was twice immediately broken back to love, but the left-hander's greater variety of shots and willingness to come to the net - where he won 11 of 13 points proved
critical. Told it was his 200th win, Norrie admitted: “I didn't know that.
“I know that yesterday Roberto got 400 so I'm halfway to his total. To get 400 wins is impressive and I'll take my 200th win against a top player.
“It's a big tournament with a lot of really good past champions so I really want to win this tournament.”
Etcheverry defeated Brandon Nakashima in three gruelling sets, 3-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 and is back on court at 11.30am today to take on Norrie.
In other matches in Barcebritish will be between Casper Ruud and Matteo Arnaldi and Arthur Fils and Dusan Lajovic.
Meanwhile, Emma Raducanu says the best is yet to come as she continued her excellent form by making it through to the quarter-finals of the Stuttgart Open.
The 2021 US Open champion beat Linda Noskova 6-0 7-5 in Germany to set up a mouthwatering last-eight tie with world No 1 Iga Swiatek today.
Raducanu is making her way back after a torrid 2023 but looked excellent in winning her two ties in the Billie Jean King Cup at the weekend and then followed that up by swatting home favourite Angelique Kerber aside in Wednesday's first round. lona, fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas She stepped it up again to dispose progressed to the quarterfinals of the world No 31 to set with a 7-5, 6-3 triumph up a repeat of the 2022 quarterfinal
nd against Roberto Carballes Baena. with Swiatek. The Greek is in good form Despite all her troubles after winning the Monte Carlo since famously winning the Masters last week. US Open in 2021, Raducanu
“It’s good to be on a streak like never doubted the good times this,” said Tsitsipas. “It tends would return. to get tougher, the more you “I am not too surprised proceed. To maintain it is the because I have been working most difficult part, so to have really hard on the training that number so far is good. It court and I knew it was just a adds confidence to me, I really matter of time,” she said. “This like to be on a streak like this.” isn't my best I still have a long
Tsitsipas will take on Facundo way to go. I am just really happy Diaz Acosta in the last eight, the rewards are starting to while the other two quarterfinals come on the match court.”