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Cameron Norrie

Second Service: Norrie reaches Queens final, analyst heaps praise on Djokovic


In Second Service today, Cameron Norrie has reached his first Queens final and Andrey Rublev has spoken about his confidence to play well on all surfaces.

Firstly, we look back at Norrie’s straight-sets win over Canadian Denis Shapovalov in the semi-finals of Queens. The Brit will take on Italian Matteo Berrettini in today’s final.

“It hasn’t really sunk in yet. I think I played very good today and I’m so pleased to be through to the final here. All credit to Denis, it was a tough match,” Norrie said in a post-match interview.

“I have doubles later on but obviously it’s a huge tournament for me and one of my biggest achievements so far. Let’s see if I can go one better tomorrow.

“I’ve watched him [Berrettini] a little bit throughout the week, he has a huge serve, he likes a drop shot. I saw him play earlier today and he had a really good day so it’s not going to be easy. I’m looking forward to it.” Norrie added.

On the topic of grass court tennis events, Andrey Rublev reached the final in Halle yesterday after a 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 win against 29-year-old Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili. The World No. 7 will take on Ugo Humbert in his first grass court event final later today.

Andrey Rublev Australian Open 2021

After the match, Rublev said: “It’s my first final on grass and in Halle. I think I can play on every surface and I will try my best again tomorrow,”

“I had good opportunities to break him (Basilashvili) in the second set, some quite easy forehands and I stressed a little showing my emotions. I then came back and stayed calm until the last game. But I won.”

Elsewhere, Paul Annacone believes Novak Djokovic “hasn’t been able to get the appreciation he deserves” because of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

The analyst noted out that Djokovic has won 18 Grand Slam titles since 2011, while Federer and Nadal have won 15 between them.

World No. 1 Djokovic claimed his 19th Grand Slam title overall at the French Open last week, and is now just one behind both Federer and Nadal – who have 20. The Serb heads to Wimbledon as defending champion, with Nadal withdrawing from the event last week.

Djokovic Roland Garros Title 2021

Check out Paul Annacone’s full quotes here 

 

 


Tim Farthing, Tennishead Editorial Director & Owner, has been a huge tennis fan his whole life. He's a tennis journalist and entrepreneur as well as playing tennis to a national standard. He also helps manage his local club and volunteers for his local tennis organisation. He's a specialist in content about the administration of professional tennis and tennis coaching for all levels.