AAP Tennis

Norrie strolls into Open second round as seeds dominate

By AAP Newswire

Jan 16, 2024

Brit Cam Norrie is the 23rd men's seed to reach the Australain Open second round. -AP

In-form Brit Cameron Norrie has cruised through to the Australian Open second round as the men's seeds continue their winnings ways at Melbourne Park.

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After fellow Brit Andy Murray bowed out in straight sets, 19th-seeded Norrie smashed 30 winners past Peru's Juan Pablo Varillas on his way to a 6-4 6-4 6-2 victory on Tuesday in two hours and 15 minutes.

The 28-year-old is the only British man or woman to be seeded at this year's Open and has the distinction of being the only player this summer yet to beat Australian star Alex de Minaur.

The former Wimbledon semi-finalist did so at the United Cup and next faces Giulio Zeppieri after the Italian qualifer upset Serbian world No.52 Dusan Lajovic 6-3 3-6 6-3 7-6 (7-3).

Norrie withdrew from last week's Auckland ATP event with a wrist injury but seemed untroubled against Varillas.

Norrie is on course for a third-round clash with Norwegian 11th seed Casper Ruud.

Earlier, Czech Adelaide International winner Jiri Lehecka became the first men's seed on day three to win through to the second round with a 6-3 6-2 6-3 victory over Spain's Bernabe Zapata Miralles.

It means Chile's Nicolas Jarry remains the only men's seed to be bounced out of the Open so far, with 21 others booking their spot in the round of 64.

By AAP Newswire

Australian Associated Press