Andy Murray vs Cameron Norrie LIVE: Western & Southern Open result as Norrie wins deciding set
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Cameron Norrie secured his first career victory over Andy Murray as he battled from a set down to edge the all-British clash at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati. Murray had won their only previous meeting in 2019 and although Norrie came into the match the favourite following his run to the Wimbledon semi-finals, the 35-year-old looked superior after recovering from an opening break to take the first set.
Murray missed a chance to break Norrie early in the second after putting a volley at the net wide and the British No 1 began to take back control of the rallies. Norrie took his break point opportunities while Murray continued to pass up chances, leading to the deciding set where physicality proved decisive. Murray struggled with muscle cramps late in the third set while Norrie, one of the fittest players in the tour, continued to improve. Norrie broke Murray late in the third before serving out to take a 3-6 6-3 6-4 win in other two and a half hours.
“There was not much in it,” Norrie said after becoming the third British man after Tim Henman and Kyle Edmund to defeat Murray. “I think it came down to physicality. It didn’t help him that his match with Stan went long and in the end I just tried to keep it in play. It’s a massive win for me, beating Andy for the first time. It’s not the way I wanted to beat him but it’s nice to do it anyway.”
Andy Murray 6-3 3-6 4-6 Cameron Norrie - Game, set and match!
Cameron Norrie, speaking to Amazon Prime: “There was not much in it. I think it came down to physicality. It didn’t help him that his match with Stan went long and he was struggling a bit towards the end. I just tried to keep it in play. For me, I’m still battling with the conditions and trying to get used to them. I got through with my attitude and tried to stay positive. Nothing was really working for me but I managed to find myself one set all and the decider was a battle. That’s how it rolls sometimes and hopefully I can keep improving.
“This match could be huge. I was looking slow and not moving well. It could have been down to nerves and feeling tired. It’s a massive win for me, beating Andy for the first time. We know each other’s games so well and it’s nice to beat him. It’s not the way I wanted to beat him but it’s nice to do it anyway.”
Andy Murray 6-3 3-6 4-6 Cameron Norrie - Game, set and match!
A key moment in the match was the simple volley Murray missed at the start of the second set that would have given him the early break. He faced several other break point chances but couldn’t take any of them. In the end, Norrie’s physicality gave him the edge in the decider as Murray faded - but Norrie’s level improved as well.
Andy Murray 6-3 3-6 4-6 Cameron Norrie - Game, set and match!
There are smiles on the faces of both players as they meet at the net. There’s even a laugh from Murray but afterwards he gets immediate attention from physio again. Murray can hardly walk out there and is grimacing as Norrie tidies up his things.
Andy Murray 6-3 3-6 4-6 Cameron Norrie - Game, set and match!
Murray, still limping, plants a forehand onto the line to get to 15-30 as Norrie looks to serve this out. But Norrie responds in style with a sliding volley into the far corner, now getting himto match point. Murray attacks but Norrie moves too well at the back of the court, his hitting much improved from the opening stages. And that’s one of his points of the match. Norrie moves in and then finishes the match with a forehand winner into the corner.
Andy Murray 6-3 3-6 4-5 Cameron Norrie* - Norrie breaks!
Now it’s Murray’s turn to face a tricky situation after being in a position of comfort. From 30-0, Norrie hauls himself back into it and then races to a drop shot to set up break point. But Murray finds the big serve, and then the putaway forehand winner.
On deuce, Murray first has to stretch out his leg - he hangs in the point and Norrie has the chance to put away the backhand pass, but it’s long! Murray, limping now, slumps a backhand into the net, before Norrie wins a lengthy rally when Murray nets on the backhand again.
It leads to a huge roar from Murray, as he also shakes out that right leg again. The first serve was an inch or two away from an ace. It’s instead followed by another missed serve. Double fault. Norrie breaks. And now Murray has the physio.
*Andy Murray 6-3 3-6 4-4 Cameron Norrie
Well, Norrie looked set for a comfortable hold at 40-0 but Murray, facing a free-hit, then produces a couple of lovely shots to get back to deuce. Out of nothing he faces an opportunity but the backhand return is slumped into the net and Norrie holds with an ace out wide. So as you were.
Andy Murray 6-3 3-6 4-3 Cameron Norrie*
After that epic Norrie service game, Murray holds to love with two finishing aces. He’s still so annoyed about those misses, though, as he slaps his thighs during the changeover.
*Andy Murray 6-3 3-6 3-3 Cameron Norrie
Norrie faces a pressure point at 15-30 but turns it on Murray as he approaches the net and asks his opponent to find the passing shot. Murray can’t, but then flips the tables by coming into the net at 40-30 to set up deuce. Murray grinds Norrie down from the baseline and that brings up break point! Huge chance for Murray here - especially on second serve - but he strings breaks as he looks to attack the second serve on the forehand! Unbelieveable. Back to deuce.
But now Norrie nets again, so another chance for Murray, and on another second serve. Murray steps in but nets on the backhand! Norrie then pulls off a stunning backhand pass down the line, his shot of the match, but can’t get the hold as he shovels a backhand long. Another chance for Murray, set up after a brilliant drop shot. The ball sits up for the forehand winner, but it’s put into the net from Murray!
And Norrie gets there in the end, after almost 10 minutes, with the ace out wide. Murray had three chances but due to bad luck, a poor return and an awful miss, this match remains level.
Andy Murray 6-3 3-6 3-2 Cameron Norrie*
That’s better from the baseline from Murray, who finds a sweet backhand down the line and then cranks up the pressure on Norrie with his backhand. An ace gets him the hold, and there are signs that he has steadied a bit.
*Andy Murray 6-3 3-6 2-2 Cameron Norrie
Murray looks exasperated as two consecutive forehand errors allow Norrie to hold. Murray only gave away seven points in the opening set but that figure doubled to 14 in the second.
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