I was going to say Cam turned it on at the right time like a good pro to take the first set but on reflection I think it was as much a case of HSU not being able to cope so well when it came to pressure points. You'll notice that he didn't convert any of the many break points that he earned. To say it was a combination of the two factors is probably about right.
-- Edited by Neil Gee on Thursday 31st of August 2023 08:36:09 PM
Strange overall stats in that outside his 2 service games that produced 8 BPs, Cam is shown as having won his other 4 service games to love and in total to have won 46 points against 37.
With a break and a hold at the beginning of the second set it looks like Cam has taken the grip on this match that it looked like - on paper - he should do. I don't expect him to relinquish said grip now.
Norrie looks very average here and is lucky to have a decent draw.
I expect hell go onto win this quite readily now but his form has been poor for months , he continues to play far too negatively.
-- Edited by nicofrance on Thursday 31st of August 2023 09:00:19 PM
This is true. I've lost count of the amount of times I've said that I wish he could find the form that won Indian Wells. But he's got enough to sail through this round at least.
Norrie looks very average here and is lucky to have a decent draw.
I expect hell go onto win this quite readily now but his form has been poor for months , he continues to play far too negatively.
-- Edited by nicofrance on Thursday 31st of August 2023 09:00:19 PM
This is true. I've lost count of the amount of times I've said that I wish he could find the form that won Indian Wells. But he's got enough to sail through this round at least.
While it would be good to see Cam in consistently better form ( not that it's been a darn awful year, if rather below his best, as certainly was the case today ), I do think the ultra slow Indian Wells hard courts particularly suit his game and 3 of his 4 career Masters appearances in QFs or better have been there, so expectations elsewhere need tempered by that.
But yes, there is still a better player in him than we have seen of late, and hopefully he can find that better form again sooner rather than later.
Arnaldi had a four hour, five set, hard fought battle with the young French hope, Arthur Fils, yesterday. I know they don't play consecutive days but he might still feel something in his legs....