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Gregoire Barrere knocked out Cameron Norrie from the Miami Open. The British number 1 was second-best to the 69th-ranked Frenchman in the duel, where he had to receive treatment for an ankle injury.
Norrie discounted his injury issues and stated his shock at tasting defeat at the hands of Barrere. His ankle flared up in the first set because of which the game had to be stopped. The South Africa-born English star returned to the court but could not tame Barrere.
At the culmination of the duel, the 27-year-old was fuming at the result in Miami Open. He alluded to his preparation for the third-round bout, which in his opinion was good enough to get past the 29-year-old.
“I’m in a bit of a state of shock,” he said. “I had prepared well and was expecting a good run here. I’ve got to put this behind me quickly.”
“I jammed it at 4-1 in the second but I had been feeling fine, it wasn’t a factor,” Norrie reflected on the impact of the jarred ankle injury.
Evans also falls short
British number 2, Dan Evans also bowed out of the Miami Open. Italian Lorenzo Sonego ended his time at the Sunshine Double in the second round. Evans took the lead in the first set but was unable to capitalize on it and capitulated to lose 1-2.
Evans admitted he fell short in the duel despite giving a good account of his abilities earlier. He pointed at the lacklustre season he has had in 2023, which has held him back due to lack of momentum.
“I’ve not had something like this before, but at least I’m getting chances. When you’re not winning matches you don’t get a chance to much more chance to get back on the horse, no momentum, so it’s difficult.
“I did a good job in the first set and then he played pretty well, one-way traffic. I’ve not really got going this season and it’s frustrating,” Evan shared.
Murray fumes at court consistency
Unlike his younger compatriot, Andy Murray was more apprehensive of his defeat to Dusan Lajovic. The 35-year-old pointed at the differing conditions at Indian Wells and Miami Open for his earlier ousting.
Murray was vocal at his defeat and did not hold back at the stark difference in playing conditions offered in California and Miami. The balls, court, and weather, all were attacked by the ageing star.
“I always remember early in my career coming from Indian Wells and feeling like the balls used to get quite small there.
“It was very lively, fast conditions, through the air. Obviously, the court was always quite slow.
“Then I would come to Miami, and the first few practices there it would be like you feel like you were hitting the ball short.
“The ball wasn’t flying through the air as much, whereas it’s now the complete opposite.
“The courts, in my opinion, here are significantly faster, much bouncier, balls are quicker here.”
The British trio will return to the drawing board to chalk out their recovery plans. They do not have much time for recovery with the Monte-Carlo Masters right around the corner. Norrie is their best hope with Evans and Murray outsiders to add silverware.
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