METZ, France — Britain’s Cameron Norrie is making a habit of digging deep in Metz. The top seed secured his place in the Moselle Open semi-finals on Friday, battling past another determined opponent in a three-set thriller that has become his signature this week. Norrie defeated French wildcard Antoine Escoffier 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 in two hours and 19 minutes, marking his third consecutive three-set victory at the ATP 250 indoor hard-court event.
This hard-fought win underscores a resilient return to form for the British number one, who arrived in Metz seeking momentum after a challenging stretch on the ATP Tour. Norrie’s path to the final four has been anything but straightforward, requiring him to summon his best tennis under pressure in every single match. "It's never easy playing three sets in a row," Norrie admitted in his post-match press conference.
A Pattern of Persistence
Norrie’s campaign in Metz has been a masterclass in perseverance. His first-round encounter against home favourite Benoît Paire was a rollercoaster, followed by a tough second-round test against young Canadian Gabriel Diallo. In each instance, Norrie dropped a set but found a way to elevate his game when it mattered most. This pattern continued against the 29-year-old Escoffier, who was playing inspired tennis in front of a vocal French crowd.
The first set was a display of Norrie’s baseline dominance. His flat, penetrating groundstrokes, particularly his lethal forehand, pushed Escoffier deep behind the baseline. He secured a single break of serve and comfortably closed out the set. The momentum, however, shifted dramatically in the second. Escoffier, ranked outside the top 200, began to go for his shots, finding sharp angles and disrupting Norrie’s rhythm.
With the Frenchman raising his level, Norrie’s first-serve percentage dipped, and a series of unforced errors crept into his game. Escoffier capitalized, breaking Norrie’s serve late in the set to force a decider. Norrie reflected on the tactical shift, stating, "He started to play a lot more aggressive in the second set and I went a little bit passive. I managed to reset well and played a very good third set."
The Decisive Third Set
True to his word, the World No. 18 did reset. The final set was a tense affair, with both players holding serve through the first seven games. The crucial moment arrived with Norrie leading 4-3. Applying relentless pressure on the Escoffier serve, he engineered two break points. On the second, a brutal cross-court forehand forced an error from the Frenchman, giving Norrie the decisive break. He then coolly served out the match to love, sealing the victory with a confident forehand winner.
Norrie’s ability to raise his level at the most critical junctures has been the defining feature of his week. His game is built on a foundation of exceptional physical fitness and mental fortitude, allowing him to outlast opponents in these grueling encounters. The key factors in his third-set success against Escoffier included:
- First-Serve Resurgence: He significantly increased his first-serve percentage, giving him control of the points from the outset.
- Aggressive Returning: He stepped inside the baseline on Escoffier’s second serve, applying immediate pressure.
- Minimizing Errors: After a loose second set, he cut down on unforced errors, forcing Escoffier to win points.
This victory not only books Norrie’s spot in the semi-finals but also provides a significant boost in his quest to qualify for the season-ending ATP Finals. Every win adds valuable points to his tally as he battles with other contenders for one of the remaining spots in Turin. The confidence gained from grinding out these wins is immeasurable.
Looking Ahead to the Semi-Finals
Awaiting Norrie in the semi-finals is another formidable challenge in the form of Alexander Bublik, the tournament's fourth seed. The charismatic Kazakhstani player advanced after his opponent, Italian Lorenzo Sonego, was forced to retire from their quarter-final match due to a right elbow injury while trailing 7-5, 2-0. Bublik, known for his unpredictable and explosive game featuring huge serves and trick shots, presents a starkly different challenge from Escoffier.
Norrie acknowledged the difficulty of the task ahead, saying, "It’s going to be a very tough match. He’s a great player, very unpredictable and he’s had a great year. I’ll have to be ready from the first point and try to implement my game." The head-to-head record adds another layer of intrigue; Bublik leads their rivalry 2-1, though their most recent meeting was over two years ago. Norrie’s sole victory came on a hard court in 2021.
The other semi-final will see French veteran Gaël Monfils take on another German, with the winner earning a shot at the title. The local crowd will be firmly behind Monfils, creating an electric atmosphere in the Arènes de Metz. For Norrie, the goal is clear: navigate past Bublik’s unique style and advance to his third ATP final of the season, where he could potentially face the experienced and always-dangerous Monfils.
A Statement Week for Norrie
This run to the semi-finals in Metz is a significant statement from Cameron Norrie. After a mid-season dip, he is demonstrating the qualities that propelled him into the world's top 10 and to a Wimbledon semi-final. Winning when not playing your absolute best is a hallmark of a top competitor, and Norrie has done exactly that three matches in a row. He has shown:
- Mental Resilience: The ability to reset after losing a set and find a way to win.
- Physical Durability: The fitness to endure over three demanding matches in a short period.
- Tactical Flexibility: The capacity to adjust his game plan mid-match to counter different opponents.
As the tournament reaches its climax, Norrie stands as the highest-ranked player left in the draw and the clear favourite for the title. However, he knows better than anyone that nothing will come easily in Metz. His journey so far has been built on grit and determination, and he will need to summon every ounce of both if he is to lift the trophy on Sunday. For British tennis fans, it’s a welcome return to the relentless, battling performances that have become synonymous with Cameron Norrie.