Cameron Norrie beat Carlos Alcaraz in the final of the ATP 500 in Rio, Brazil. The Spanish tennis player, apparently launched towards victory on 7-5 3-0, gives in to a decidedly more brilliant opponent from a physical point of view and also to a problem in his right leg which evidently conditions the end of the match.
The 5-7 6-4 7-5 matures beyond two and a half hours of play. The British tennis player thus wins the fifth title of his career and also raises himself in the ranking. Leapfrogged Jannik Sinner at number twelve. Despite a start conditioned by some mistakes scattered here and there, the young Spanish talent obviously tries to dictate the rhythms from the baseline and to highlight the problems on the right side of the British.
Norrie goes into trouble at 4-4. Yes, he cancels three chances for the 5-4 Alcaraz and a set point in the tenth game, but at the foot of the jeudecif he does not find sufficiently valid weapons to hold on to the score. The Spaniard, who doesn’t let himself be asked, closes with a splendid backhand solution down the line.
The dynamics apparently remain the same in the second set as well. On the contrary. With less responsibility, the Spanish talent immediately jumps to 3-0 and also wins the first two fifteen of the fourth game. Obviously on the Norrie service.
The Briton, however, did not throw in the towel, repudiated the defeat in every possible way, moved the score with great difficulty and above all took advantage of the sharp drop in Alcaraz. Foul with the backhand and above all in confusion in the management of prolonged rallies.
Norrie breaks a streak of five consecutive games in favor of the opponent and wins four in parallel. With an Alcaraz who, in an attempt to reduce the number of prolonged exchanges, even due to a not excellent physical condition, tries with rather modest results to constantly appear near the net.
Norrie beats him, but above all he completes a 6-1 run to postpone the matter to the third set. Alcaraz comes out better from the starting blocks during the deciding set. A fire in the pan. Also because together with a tactical plan without foundations, he also relies almost obsessively on the short ball so as not to get trapped in the network of baseline exchanges that the Briton manages best.
Also aware of a more brilliant physical condition. The Spanish talent, however, after another negative partial topped off with two breaks for the British, plays a sixth game of only winners and apparently gets back on track.
He even puts his head forward on 5-4. Norrie, who manages to move the Murciano in time of need, takes advantage of the fourth break point available at 5-5 and with the serve available in the final he makes no mistake. Below the highlights of th match:
