Cameron Norrie overcame Frenchman Constant Lestienne in four sets 6-3 3-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-3 to advance to the third round at the Australian Open.
In a first set interrupted by rain Norrie held serve at love before breaking twice in the seventh and ninth games to clinch the first set 6-3.
Lestienne earned a break point in Norrie’s first service game, but Norrie held serve with an ace after three deuces. Both players traded breaks in the third and fourth games to draw level to 2-2. Lestienne broke serve in the seventh game to take a 4-3 lead.
Lestienne earned three break points at 40-0, as he was one game away from winning the second set. The Frenchman sealed the second set 6-3 with his second break in the ninth game, as Norrie slammed a forehand into the net.
Lestienne earned an early break in the second game to take a 2-0 lead in the third set with a low forehand shot. Norrie broke straight back in the third game for 1-2. Lestienne converted a break point after Norrie sent a forehand wide in the fourth game. As Lestienne was serving for the third set in the eighth game, Norrie held serve at deuce before converting a break-back point to force the tie-break. Norrie earned three mini-breaks to win the tie-break 7-2.
Norrie earned a break point in the fourth game of the fourth set, as Lestienne hit a forehand wide. Lestienne hit three winners to hold serve for 2-2. Norrie held serve at love to take a 3-2 lead. Lestienne saved three break points to hold serve for 3-3. Norrie was just two games away from the win and went up 30-15 on Lestienne’s serve. The French player hit a forehand into the net to give Norrie a break point.
Norrie broke serve in the eighth game to take a 5-3 lead as Lestienne sent a forehand volley into the net. Lestienne saved a match point but Norrie sealed the win on his second opportunity after 3 hours and 13 minutes. The match finished after 1 am local time.
Norrie hit 17 aces and produced 58 winners to Lestienne’s 41. The British player won 65% of his first serve points.
Norrie set up a third round match against last year’s Next Gen Finals runner-up Jiri Lehecka, who beat Christopher Eubanks 6-4 6-4 3-6 6-3 to secure his spot in the third round at a Grand Slam for the first time in his career.
