Cameron Norrie came through a tough test against home favourite Tomas Martin Etcheverry in Buenos Aires; He lost the first set but came back to seal his place in the semi-finals.
Saturday 18 February 2023 10:01, UK
Cameron Norrie survived a first-set scare and a pair of rain delays to move into the semi-finals of the Argentina Open in Buenos Aires.
The British No 1 dropped the opener to home favourite Tomas Martin Etcheverry but stormed back after the first break to eventually triumph 5-7 6-0 6-3.
Norrie's hopes of reaching his second tour semi-final of the season appeared in doubt as Etcheverry, the world No 82, played confidently in front of his home crowd to take the opener.
But he responded by adapting his game and it paid off as he stormed through the second set before maintaining the upper-hand in a decider that was also split due to showers.
In the semi-final Norrie will face Peru's Juan Pablo Varillas, who eliminated third-seeded Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 6-4.
Top seed and world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz beat Dusan Lajovic of Serbia 6-4, 6-2 to reach the semi-final himself.
The Spaniard struggled as he took the first set but cruised to victory in the second on the strength of several winners.
"My second match of the year, I am happy and looking forward for the next ones," Alcaraz said.
On Friday night Spain's Bernabe Zapata Miralles beat home Francisco Cerundolo 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-3 to set up a semi-final with countryman Alcaraz.
Iga Swiatek continued her good form at the Qatar Open, beating Veronika Kudermetova in straight sets. She will face Jessica Pegula in the final, after the American beat Maria Sakkari 6-2 4-6 6-1.
