Cameron Norrie is on his best Wimbledon run since reaching the 2022 semi-finals after outlasting Mattia Bellucci to reach the fourth round on his favourite Court No.1. The Italian world No.73 showed he is a real talent with his big serve and forehand. But after a tight first set, his fellow left-hander Norrie ground down his resistance to win 7-6 6-3.
Bellucci’s lack of experience showed in his first Grand Slam third round tie as he followed superb winners with dips in concentration. Steady Norrie won19 points out of 22 in a hot streak in the second set before the streaky Italian, who beat Britain’s Oliver Crawford in the first round, refound his mojo and fought back from 1-5 down.
But the steady British No.3 still reached the the last 16 at a Grand Slam for the fifth time and will face either Brazilian teenage superstar Joao Fonseca or Chilean qualifier Nicolas Jarry on Sunday.
He joins fellow Brit Sonay Kartal in the next round after she beat Diane Parry earlier in the day.
Norrie, who dropped down to world No.91 earlier this year, is the last British man left in the grasscourt Grand Slam and he reached the last four here last time he reached the second week.
But it was not as straightforward as the score suggested. Bellucci served warning he would be dangerous by breaking Norrie to love in the opening game. The Italian produced some stunning shots – including a forehand return winner around the net post – but he forced six more break points in the first set and failed to take any. Norrie drew the set level at 4-4 by breaking back to love when he attacked another Bellucci second serve with a big forehand drive.
With the tiebreak locked at 5-5, the Scot ended a gruelling 24-shot rally with a backhand passing shot down the line. And he took his first set point when the Italian framed his forehand.
The British No.3 broke Bellucci in the first game and was 40-0 up on his own serve at 2-1 before the Italian conjured a series of winners – culminating in a backhand crosscourt pass which hit the line – to break back to 2-2
Norrie broke again to lead 4-3 when Bellucci could only steer another big return into the net. And the British No.3 took his second set point with a 107mph ace.
The Italian then wilted in the afternoon sun and Norrie broke to lead 2-1 when he directed a weak overhead to the Scot’s forehand and he whipped a winner down the line.
But serving for the match at 5-2, Norrie was broken for the third time in the match before he took his first match point when Bellucci sent a forehand long after two hours and 28 minutes.
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