British number one Cameron Norrie secured his first win at the Nottingham Open on Tuesday, defeating Japanese qualifier Sho Shimabukuro in three sets. Despite a strong start, Norrie faced challenges as his opponent forced a decider in the second set. Norrie eventually broke Shimabukuro in the third set to secure the win, admitting that he had to fight for it.
The 28-year-old took one hour and 43 minutes to clinch the victory, winning 6-1 4-6 6-3 against Shimabukuro, who is ranked 215th in the world. Reflecting on his recent performance, Norrie expressed disappointment with his clay season but saw the Nottingham Open as an opportunity to better prepare for the grass season ahead.
Norrie’s match was one of several noteworthy contests at the Nottingham Open on Tuesday. Dan Evans overcame Dominic Stricker of Switzerland in three sets after their game was paused due to poor light on Monday night. Evans will face Henry Searle in the next round, while other British players like Jake Fearnley and Charles Broom also secured wins in their matches.
Despite a defeat for Jan Choinski, British players had a strong showing in the early rounds of the Nottingham Open. Looking forward to his second-round match against Jack Pinnington Jones, Norrie emphasized the importance of getting more match practice.
Norrie acknowledged that he did not play his best tennis during the match but was still pleased with his win. “It was tough out there,” he said after the game. “But I’m just happy to be back on court and get some wins under my belt.”
