ATP Finals debut gives Cameron Norrie chance to avenge San Diego drubbing

Cameron Norrie faces Casper Ruud in his first match as second alternate at the ATP Finals, a man who beat him handily in their only meeting.

Despite narrowly missing out on outright qualification for the ATP Finals, Norrie will play two matches at the Turin event after world number four Stefanos Tsitsipas withdrew due to injury.

According to the ATP, the Greek cited a right elbow injury as the cause for the decision. A similar injury ended his campaign at the recent Paris Masters.

Norrie now joins world number 11 Jannik Sinner as replacement at the tournament, the Italian filling in for injured compatriot Matteo Berrettini.

It is the first time that two alternates have competed at the ATP Finals since 2005, when Rafael Nadal and Andre Agassi were replaced by Mariano Puerta and Fernando Gonzalez respectively.

Norrie first faces Norwegian talent Ruud. The two have played just once before, in the final of the ATP 250 San Diego Open in October of this year.

Ruud thrashed the world number 12 that day 6-0, 6-2 to lift the title. However, the result did not seem to dishearten Norrie, as he went on his surprise Indian Wells title run immediately after.

After Ruud, Norrie will face world number one Novak Djokovic. Djokovic and Norrie have never played each other before, though Norrie has described the Serb as “a nightmare to play.”

The five-time ATP Finals champion is already through to the semi-finals after straight sets wins over Ruud and Andrey Rublev.

Should he win the event this year, Djokovic would equal Roger Federer’s all-time record of six tour finals titles.

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