9th seed Andrey Rublev defeated Britain’s Cameron Norrie 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to enter the quarterfinals at the US Open.
After a marathon match against Shapovalov in the previous round, Andrey Rublev played a better match and will now play his 6th career Grand Slam quarterfinal against Frances Tiafoe who knocked out 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal.
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First and second sets
Cameron Norrie started the match on a high but was not able to consolidate. His backend started to make many errors that did not allow him to settle.
Andrey Rublev, sensing opportunities, made the most out of them as he broke Norrie to go up 5-4 in the first set. He closed out the set to go up in the match.
Norrie had not dropped a set coming to this match but was finding it tough to make Andrey Rublev uncomfortable.
Norrie got only 2 break points all match, of which he converted one. He could not find a way to get through Rublev’s serves all match.
He started being more aggressive in the second set but that only played against him.
Rublev broke him again early in the set to assert control and made Norrie uncomfortable to come back from behind.
The match was stopped at 3-2 in the second because of a rain shower.
The roof was not closed and the play was stopped again for 20 minutes to dry the court and close the roof when Rublev led 4-3.
Andrey Rublev served out the set quickly after the play resumed to go up 2 sets to love.
Third set
He continued to deny Norrie any chances and broke him again to go up 3-2 in the 3rd set.
Norrie broke back immediately as it started to get a little tense on the court.
However, he could not make the most out of it as Rublev punished his another poor service game with a cross-court backhand winner to break again.
Rublev served out the set to win the match in straight sets.
Reactions Andrey Rublev and Norrie after the match
“It was tough, especially when we’ve known each other for a long time,” said Rublev.
“Last time he beat me, so of course I was coming on court thinking I need to give my best, play really well, and I think today I played a good match.
“Cameron maybe was a bit tired, because in some moments he helped me, but this is the US Open, this is a Grand Slam and everyone is nervous, everyone is tight, everyone wants to win.
So this is normal. In the end I was able to win in three sets and I’m super happy.”
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Rublev will play his 6th Grand Slam quarterfinal and 3rd at the US Open.
He is yet to win a quarterfinal and this might be his moment. He now had a record of 17-6 at the US Open.
“Andrey was very solid and he was better than me in all departments.
Credit to him,” said Norrie. “I felt like I started the match very well, very relaxed and playing good, serving well,” said Norrie, who has the third most wins on the ATP Tour this season.
“I felt I was just too kind of chill in between points and not kind of getting up with my team and using them to my advantage.
I don’t know, it can happen. I did some things very well today but not enough.”
