Tennis: Norrie Reaches Rio Open Semi-Finals
British number one Cameron Norrie moved into the semi-finals of the Rio Open with a 6-1 3-6 6-2 victory over home favourite Thiago Seyboth Wild.
Defending champion Norrie wrapped the first set up in 30 minutes but an error-strewn second set allowed the Brazilian to level.
The 28-year-old raced to a 5-1 lead in the decider and sealed victory with his fifth match point.
“I was just really proud of how I fought hard,” said Norrie.
“It was so humid and it was tough physically. I managed to break there in the end, so I’m proud of myself.”
Norrie, ranked 23rd, has reached his first ATP Tour semi-final since May and will face 22-year-old Argentine qualifier and world number 113 Mariano Navone.
The other semi-final sees an all-Argentine encounter between Francisco Cerundolo and Sebastian Baez.
“I had a tough patch at the end of last year and I just wanted to stay strong. It’s wins like this that make it count,” added Norrie.
No player has won the Rio Open twice, while Norrie has joined Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz in reaching the semi-final of the tournament the year after winning it.
At the Los Cabos Open in Mexico, Norway’s Casper Ruud beat Greece’s defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4 7-6 (7-4) and will face either German top seed Alexander Zverev or Australian Jordan Thompson in the final.
BBC / Jamiu Ogunshe
