British number one Cameron Norrie overcame a stiffer-than-expected challenge from Japanese qualifier Sho Shimabukuro in the first round of the Nottingham Open tennis tournament. Despite his struggles this year, the 28-year-old managed to secure a 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 victory, though he acknowledged that he “did not play his best tennis.”
Norrie, who was looking to bounce back from a disappointing performance at the French Open, found himself in an unexpected battle against the world number 215. After cruising through the first set in just 21 minutes, the British player lost his serve at 4-4 in the second, allowing Shimabukuro to level the match.
“I had to scrap for the victory,” the world number 13 admitted, emphasizing the difficulty he faced in his first match on the grass courts this season.
However, Norrie regained his composure in the deciding set, breaking his opponent’s serve midway through and ultimately grinding out the win.
Looking ahead, Norrie will face compatriot Jack Pinnington Jones in the second round on Thursday, after the 21-year-old defeated Arthur Fery in an all-British first-round clash. Eager to find his form on the grass, the British number one expressed his excitement about the upcoming matches, stating, “I want to get matches this week. I know I can play well on the grass.”
🔗 Source
