METZ, France & ATHENS, Greece — British number one Cameron Norrie continued his strong late-season form on Wednesday, securing a hard-fought victory over French wildcard Arthur Cazaux to book his spot in the quarter-finals of the Moselle Open. Meanwhile, world number one Novak Djokovic navigated a tricky test in Athens to advance at the ATP 250 event.
Norrie, the tournament's second seed, needed two hours and 13 minutes to overcome the spirited challenge from the 21-year-old Cazaux, eventually prevailing 7-6(1), 6-4. The win marks a positive start to Norrie's campaign in Metz as he looks to build momentum ahead of the final stretch of the 2024 season and a potential push for the ATP Finals.
In a match defined by powerful serving and baseline exchanges, the first set was a tense affair with neither player able to secure a break of serve. Norrie’s experience and consistency ultimately told in the tie-break, where he raced to a 6-1 lead before converting his third set point. Reflecting on the tight opening set, Norrie noted, "Arthur serves incredibly well, so I knew I had to be solid on my own service games and just take my chance when it came."
The second set followed a similar pattern until the crucial seventh game, where Norrie finally broke through Cazaux's defenses. A series of deep returns and a well-constructed point at 30-40 gave the Briton the break, and he confidently served out the match to love, sealing the victory with a forehand winner down the line. The key tactical adjustments that paid off for Norrie included:
- Increasing the frequency of his returns to Cazaux’s potent but sometimes vulnerable backhand side.
- Utilizing his signature sliced backhand to disrupt the Frenchman's rhythm and draw errors.
- Remaining patient in extended rallies, trusting his superior physical conditioning to outlast the young challenger.
Norrie will now face another Frenchman, Pierre-Hugues Herbert, in the last eight. Herbert advanced after his opponent, fourth seed Lorenzo Sonego, was forced to retire from their match due to a right shoulder injury. Norrie leads their head-to-head 2-0, but he is taking nothing for granted, stating, "Pierre-Hugues is a great player, especially indoors, and he'll have the crowd behind him. I'll need to be at my best."
Djokovic Battles Past Etcheverry in Athens
Across Europe in Athens, Novak Djokovic’s debut at the Greek Open continued with a straight-sets victory, though he was made to work for it by Argentina's Tomás Martín Etcheverry. The top seed and 24-time Grand Slam champion eventually triumphed 7-6(5), 6-4 to move into the quarter-finals of the tournament he is using as vital preparation for the upcoming Paris Masters and ATP Finals.
The first set was a monumental struggle, lasting 72 minutes. Etcheverry, known for his heavy forehand and clay-court prowess, adapted well to the hard court and pushed Djokovic to the limit. The Serbian faced break points in his opening service game but managed to save them, setting the tone for a set that would be decided by the finest of margins. In the tie-break, Djokovic’s legendary composure under pressure was the difference, as he clinched it 7-5.
The second set saw Djokovic find another gear. He secured an early break and, despite a late surge from Etcheverry that saw him save two match points on Djokovic's serve at 5-3, he closed out the match in the following game. Speaking to the press after the match, Djokovic acknowledged the challenge, saying, "It was a very physical battle. Tomas is a great player, he was serving big and making me work for every single point."
The Bigger Picture for Both Champions
For Norrie, the deep run in Metz is crucial for his ranking and confidence. After a somewhat inconsistent season, he has shown flashes of the form that took him to the top 10. A title here would be his second of the year and provide a significant boost in the ATP Race To Turin, where he remains an outside contender for a spot at the season-ending championships.
For Djokovic, the objectives in Athens are multifaceted. While adding another trophy to his collection is always the goal, his primary focus is on fine-tuning his game for the final, critical events of the year where historic milestones are on the line. His immediate goals for the remainder of the season are clear:
- Paris Masters: Secure a record-extending seventh title to guarantee his year-end world number one ranking.
- ATP Finals: Claim a seventh Finals trophy, breaking the tie with Roger Federer.
- Davis Cup: Lead Serbia to its second title in the team competition.
Other Notable Results in Metz and Athens
The action was fast and furious across both tournaments. In Metz, home favourite and top seed Ugo Humbert was stunned in a three-set thriller by German qualifier Dominik Koepfer, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4. This opens up the bottom half of the draw significantly. Meanwhile, Alexander Bublik, the third seed, safely advanced with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Hugo Gaston, setting up a quarter-final clash with Koepfer.
In Athens, the tournament saw the continuation of Stefanos Tsitsipas's strong run on home soil. The Greek star, playing in front of an adoring crowd, dispatched Italian Lorenzo Musetti in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2. In the quarter-finals, he will face a stern test against the big-serving American, Ben Shelton, who defeated Zhizhen Zhang. Djokovic's next opponent will be the winner of the match between Jiri Lehecka and Tallon Griekspoor.
As the tennis calendar begins to wind down, these 250-level events often provide the stage for emerging stars to make a name for themselves and for established veterans to find their rhythm. For Norrie, a title in Metz would be a perfect cap to a solid year. For Djokovic, every match in Athens is a stepping stone towards his ultimate goal of ending the season on a historic high, proving once again that even for the greatest of all time, the pursuit of perfection never ceases.
The quarter-finals in both Metz and Athens promise a day of high-quality tennis. With places in the final four on the line, the intensity is set to ramp up as the champions continue their march and the challengers look to cause an upset on the indoor hard courts of Europe.