Britain’s Cameron Norrie beat world No. 2 Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 in the final of the ATP 500 tournament in Rio de Janeiro (clay) on Sunday after winning a match with turns, two players had multiplied the breaks.
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So Alcaraz, the youngest winner against the same Norrie at the tournament in Buenos Aires, will not have been able to defend his title in Rio.
During a game that ended in a tie, the young Spanish star showed signs of nervousness, then fatigue, visibly embarrassed with a sore right thigh.
After becoming the youngest-ever No. 1 in the world aged 19 after winning the US Open last year, Alcaraz before being sidelined for several months to treat an injury to his right leg, Alcaraz has had since returning to Buenos Aires his good form confirmed by qualifying in Rio for a second straight final with eight straight wins.
But Norrie, 13th player in the world, broke the streak and revealed Alcaraz was still physically fragile, even nervous. The latter sometimes showed desperation during a meeting of around 2:41.
The Briton wins the fifth tournament of his career and is down four to two in his duels against the Spaniard after beating him hard in Cincinnati (USA) last year.