By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday February 25, 2023
Cameron Norrie rallied from a set and break down to defeat a hobbled Carlos Alcaraz in the Rio Open final.
Photo Source: TTV
Trailing by a set and break and two points from going down by a double break against Carlos Alcaraz in the second set of the Rio final, Cameron Norrie reached back and found something special as he surged past the Spanish teen to take the title on Sunday, 5-7, 6-4, 7-5, in a wild affair that had more tempo changes than a Thelonious Monk piano solo.
Alcaraz, who became increasingly affected by an injured right leg in the final, spent most of the deciding set trying to win points without much running, a strategy (or lack thereof) that worked well at times, and even featured an underarm serve, but ultimately the defending champion could not keep a determined Norrie at bay.
His perfect start to 2023 was ended, and he drops to 8-1.
“So special to win this one especially because I lost a couple of finals already this year and I had to do it the tough way,” said an elated Norrie on court. “I was set and a break down and love-30 on my serve – I was looking down there and I managed to flick a switch.”
Norrie gains revenge for last week’s straight-set loss in the final to Alcaraz, and earns his fifth career title. He improves to 2-4 lifetime against the Spanish star, with wins in two of their last three meetings.
Norrie and Alcaraz are the first players to meet in finals in successive weeks on the ATP Tour since Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic played for the title at Madrid and Rome in 2016, and Norrie is the first Brit to win the title in Rio.
Does it boost Norrie's confidence to win his biggest clay court title against the No.2-ranked player in the world?
“A lot,” he explained, adding: “Especially on a surface that I'm not too comfortable with. I had to battle a lot of demons the last couple of weeks, but I managed to play well in the big moments and that's what I took today.”
Norrie finished with 24 winners against 40 for Alcaraz, but he committed half as many unforced errors as his hobbled adversary. Alcaraz hit 50 unforced while Norrie hit just 25.
Alcaraz played nine matches in the last 12 days after missing four months with a pair of nagging injuries (abdominal and hamstring), and began to run out of steam this weekend. The 19-year-old had very little left to give in the waning moments of the match, but still made it close as he mixed in an array of drop shots and jaw-dropping power, keeping points short and staying level until 5-5 in the final set.
Alcaraz led 2-0 in the final set, but Norrie soon took it level at 2-all. From that point on the Spaniard was chasing the score.
Norrie broke for 3-2, but Alcaraz broke back to level; Norrie had a pair of break points at 4-all but could not convert. He then held at love before converting his fourth break point of the 11th game to lead 6-5.
Norrie served out the title, closing the contest with his third ace at the two hour and 41 minute mark.