Tennis | ATP Queen’s Club 2023 | Norrie overcomes Kecmanovic obstacle to set Thompson clash

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By Tony Fairbairn

Cameron Norrie [5] def Miomir Kecmanovic 6-4 7-6(5)
Norrie v Jordan Thompson [SE] | H2H: Tied at 1-1

LONDON, ENGLAND – Cameron Norrie has set up a second round meeting with Jordan Thompson at Queen’s Club after defeating Miomir Kecmanovic in straight sets.

Cameron Norrie [5] def Miomir Kecmanovic 6-4 7-6(5)

Cameron Norrie is back to winning ways after reaching the second round at Queen’s Club with a straight sets win over Miomir Kecmanovic. The fifth seed started the match in positive fashion, using a variety of height and speed to catch Kecmanovic off guard. The tactical depth of Norrie was rewarded with a break in the second game before the Brit would go back to his erratic tennis that was on show at Roland Garros.

The Serb capitalised with some aggressive forehands of his own to break back to love in the third game. Norrie had to withstand a lot of pressure in the middle of the opening set as the Brit had been inconsistently accurate with his groundstrokes. Kecmanovic seized the opportunity as he created five break points in the fifth game.

However Norrie came up clutch when it really mattered as he held to take a 3-2 lead before cruising to two consecutive love holds. The momentum was with Norrie as he reverted to his aggressive and proactive tennis as he looked to dominate the exchanges at the net. That attacking tennis was rewarded as the British number one produced a sizzling return game to break to love and seal the opening set 6-4.

The world number 13 continued to be aggressive in the second set with an early break in the fourth game seeing Norrie be in control of his own destiny. As this season proved though that was a dangerous strategy as Norrie once again lost his own concentration with Kecmanovic applying the pressure. Just like the opening set, the Serb broke straight back and saved break point in the next game to hold for 3-3.

There was more freedom about Norrie’s play in the second set though as the Brit seemed to turn tension into a more relaxed way of playing. The Brit served accurately and with efficiency with Kecmanovic seemingly matching Norrie’s high standard of play. The Serb managed to save match point with some effective point construction as he forced a second set tiebreak.

However that was delaying the inevitable as Norrie used some vicious and clinical angles to seal the tiebreak 7-5, moving into the second round at Queen’s Club as a result.

Cameron Norrie [5] v Jordan Thompson [SE] | H2H & Match Fundamentals

Cameron Norrie [5] v Jordan Thompson [SE]	H2H: Tied at 1-1
Queen’s Club 2023	London, England
Grass (O)	Prize Money: €32,105
Second on Centre Court (13:30 BST)	Amazon Prime Video <– Sign up for trial

Next up for Norrie is Jordan Thompson who is a player who loves playing on grass courts and recently made the final in s-Hertogenbosch.

Tale of the Tape – Key Stats (2023)

H2H:	Cameron Norrie (WR 13)	Jordan Thompson (WR 76)
Tournament Previous Best	Final (2021)	R2 (2017)
1^st Serve %	64.9	60
Service Games Won %	79	84.6
Break Points Saved %	61.2	52.9
2^nd Serve Return Points Won %	53.9	45.5
Break Points Converted %	40.3	33.6

Norrie’s clinical efficiency on break points will be put to the test against Thompson’s clinical serving.

Playing Styles and Prediction

The Australian has had a decent season which included a win over Stefanos Tsitsipas at Indian Wells and now Thompson enters his favourite time of the year on grass. Thompson will be looking to break into the world’s top 50 over the next few weeks and the world number 76 made a good start to that bid with a final last week in s-Hertogenbosch.

Norrie will look to get as many returns into play as possible as he looks to maintain an aggressive tempo and will look to create more depth with the forehand from the baseline. Meanwhile Thompson will look to continue his efficiency on serve and finish points off quickly at the net. This will be a competitive match with both players looking to be as aggressive as possible. A tough test for Norrie should end with the Brit edging a thrilling contest at Queen’s Club to book a place in the last eight.

Prediction: Norrie in three sets.

Sebastian Korda def Dan Evans 6-4 7-5; Alex De Minaur [7] def Andy Murray 6-3 6-1

As Norrie looks ahead to the second round, Dan Evans and Andy Murray have a lot of reflecting to do after straight set defeats in the opening round. Evans remained competitive throughout his defeat to Sebastian Korda but the Brit was broken on two occasions throughout the contest and failed to create a single break point opportunity.

Meanwhile Murray displayed fatigue and unforced errors as he was well and truly beaten by Alex De Minaur. Murray had won back-to-back Challenger events heading into Queen’s Club but never really got going against a ruthless De Minaur.

As it stands neither player are set to play before Wimbledon which starts on the 3^rd of July although that could change with wildcards on offer at Eastbourne.