Cameron Norrie Eliminated from Cincinnati open by Roberto Bautista Agut

cincinnati, Ohio – August 16, 2023 – british tennis star Cameron Norrie has been defeated in the second round of the Cincinnati Open by veteran Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut, marking his second consecutive early exit in North American hard-court tournaments. The match concluded with a score of 6-4, 6-3 in favor of Bautista Agut.

Norrie, currently ranked 32nd in the world, received a frist-round bye at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. This loss comes after a recent defeat to Aleksandar vukic (ranked 99th) in the second round of the Canadian Open in Montreal last week. The heat, exceeding 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit), appeared to considerably impact Norrie’s performance during the match against the 37-year-old Bautista Agut.

The two players had recently faced each other at Wimbledon, where Norrie secured a four-set victory over Bautista Agut, contributing to his extraordinary run to the quarter-finals. However, Bautista Agut demonstrated resilience and tactical prowess in Cincinnati, effectively holding serve through several extended games and capitalizing on a break opportunity in the fourth game of the first set.

Norrie visibly struggled with the conditions, requiring a shirt change while serving at 5-2 down in the first set. Despite saving two set points, he ultimately succumbed to a double fault, allowing Bautista Agut to close out the first set. The second set saw Norrie continue to battle,saving five match points to narrow the gap to 5-3,although he committed three double faults during this period.

Bautista Agut, playing only his second tournament since Wimbledon, remained composed and secured the victory on his second match point. This defeat marks Norrie’s third loss in his last five matches following his strong showing at SW19, where he was ultimately stopped by Carlos Alcaraz, the world number two.

Looking Ahead: US Open Preparations

Both players are now turning their attention to the upcoming US Open, scheduled to begin on August 28th at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City. Norrie will be looking to regain his form and build momentum before the final Grand Slam of the year. Bautista Agut’s performance in Cincinnati suggests he is returning to peak condition after his Wimbledon campaign. The US open draw will be released next week, setting the stage for potential future clashes between these two competitors.