Briton’s Cameron Norrie won the battle of the lefties against Denis Shapovalov Friday to advance to the semi-finals of the San Diego Open. The 26-year-old, who also defeated the Canadian in the Queen’s semi-finals during the grass swing, powered to his 40th match win of the year with a decisive 6-3, 6-1 victory.
Norrie’s breakout season had turned into a bust of late. Since winning his maiden ATP Tour title at Los Cabos, Mexico, in July, he had won just two of seven matches, arriving at the Barnes Tennis Centre on a four-match losing streak.
But after taking out former World No. 5 Kevin Anderson in the first round and countryman and World No. 22 Daniel Evans in the second round, Norrie appears to have recaptured the form that has underpinned his banner year. He came into 2021 with just 51 wins throughout his career.
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After saving a break point to level at 3-all in the first set, Norrie immediately broke the 22-year-old as he stormed home to win 10 of the last 11 games of the match.
“Denis came out serving really well and it was tricky for me to get into the rallies and get some rhythm, but I held onto my serve early in the first and then managed to find my return and my lefty serves when I needed them. I’m really enjoying playing here in San Diego.”
Norrie next faces the winner of top-seeded Russian Andrey Rublev and sixth-seeded Argentine Diego Schwartzman.