Cameron Norrie battled through rain delays, injury concerns and a determined Giulio Zeppieri to win from two sets down in a marathon second-round match; we will bring you live scores, reports, analysis and features from Melbourne all the way until the finals next weekend
Thursday 18 January 2024 17:30, UK
Cameron Norrie completed an incredible comeback from two sets down to beat Giulio Zeppieri 3-6 6-7 (4-7) 6-2 6-4 6-4 to reach the third round of the Australian Open.
The match featured two rain delays and multiple medical timeouts for Norrie as he dug deep to set up a last-32 clash with world No 11 Casper Ruud.
It's just the third time Norrie has come back from two sets down to win at a Grand Slam in his career.
His next opponent Ruud needed a deciding set tie-break to get past Australian Max Purcell as he won 6-3 6-7(7-5) 6-3 3-6 7-6 (10-7).
Asked about facing Norrie, the Norwegian said: "He's a tough competitor, for sure. He's rising his level the past three, four years. He has a cool story. Came from college, took it to the next step from there. He's a great player.
"I need to be on top of my game if I want to hang in there with him. I have played him a few times before, been able to beat him before. I know what has given me the win. He will try to seek revenge and find a way to beat me."
Zeppieri made a flying start by taking the first set in 32 minutes and broke early in the second, only for Norrie to break back as he requested a medical timeout.
At 6-5 up on the Zeppieri serve, Norrie was 0-30 ahead but lost the next four points which forced a tie-break. Zeppieri dominated the tie-break and was on course to upset the Briton.
There were two rain delays in the middle and at the end of the third set which Norrie won as momentum changed. A fresh Norrie broke at the start of the fourth and held serve despite needing more treatment in the middle of the set.
In the decider, Zeppierei got a break point chance in the third game but Norrie saved it and got a break of his own when it mattered most to go 5-4 up, then held serve to book a place in the last 32 in Melbourne for the third time in his career.
Jack Draper wasn't able to join Norrie in the next round as Tommy Paul got the better of the Briton 6-2 3-6 6-3 7-5.
In a re-match of last week's quarter-final at the Adelaide International, which was won by Draper, Paul won four games in a row and went on to comfortably win the first set.
However, Draper raised his game in the second only for Paul to break at the start of the third. Draper saved set points at 5-2 down but Paul served out the next game to get his nose back ahead.
Paul also broke Draper immediately in the fourth, only for the 22-year-old to break back and make it 2-2. The next five games went to serve but Draper squandered two set points at 5-4 which proved costly as Paul won the next three games to get revenge from Adelaide.
"He beat me pretty bad last week and I knew I had to come out and change some things. I knew I needed to keep him on court as long as I could. He had a long first round, so I have to thank Marcos Giron.
"I played a bit more aggressive. He's unbelievable when he's dictating, so trying to keep him on the defence was the main goal."
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