Cameron Norrie’s French Open campaign ended in disappointing fashion with a straight-set loss to Lorenzo Musetti in the third round.
It was the third year in a row that the British No 1 had been knocked out in the last 32, and he only mounted any real challenge in the third set before going down 6-1 6-2 6-4 in two hours and eight. minutes. in Court Simonne Mathieu.
For me, I can play bad and everything, but I’m just very flat and disappointed to have a performance like that.
There is certainly no shame in losing to the 21-year-old Musetti, who is only five places below Norrie and whose best surface is on clay, but the 14th seed will be disappointed in the manner in which what was one of his worst Grand Slam losses. in the field of the scoreline.
The result, meanwhile, ended Britain’s singles hopes in a tournament where only three players made it to the starting line.
“I came out very flat and I was disappointed with the attitude in the first couple of sets,” said a very sad Norrie.
“These are very, very slow conditions, very heavy, and I’m not ready for this slow. For me, I can play badly and everything, but I’m just very flat and disappointed to have one performance like that.
“The first two sets he didn’t do much and two sets he will love.
“There are no excuses to play at the level I did today. I missed a lot of quick short balls and lost a lot of points within a couple of shots where I usually win a lot.
“I didn’t prepare. I changed rackets throughout the match. It’s a little cold today but I’m good enough that it doesn’t bother me.”
Norrie lost to Musetti in Barcelona recently but spoke positively after his second round win over Lucas Pouille about what he learned from that bout.
Musetti could face a potential blockbuster encounter against world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz in the fourth round
He was immediately on the back foot, however, dropping serve in the opening game against the stylish Italian and easily losing the opening set.
The second was no better, with Musetti constantly looking for an answer to everything Norrie could throw at him, and the 17th seed also broke early in the third.
Norrie was looking at his worst major loss but at least he made a fist of it, breaking Musetti, who had lost from two sets in two of his previous appearances at Roland Garros, coming back and making it three chance to break 5-3.
The Italian held firm, though, and drilled a forehand past Norrie to break again before serving out the winner.
Norrie will now return to London and turn his attention to the grass-court swing a year on from his run to the semi-finals at Wimbledon.
“I would say this one is more painful than the others who are in a grand slam and want to play well in Grand Slams,” he added. “Hopefully this will give me more fuel and preparation for the next Grand Slam, which will be a good one.”
Djokovic and Alcaraz continue to win
Novak Djokovic survived a scare to make the fourth round of the French Open
Novak Djokovic fought off a formidable challenge from Alejandro Davidovich Fokina to reach the fourth round for the 14th consecutive year.
The 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 victory took three hours and 36 minutes, with Djokovic breaking down twice in the first set and being forced to save a set point in second
The 22-time Grand Slam champion, who is again wearing a nanotechnology device on his chest, looked uneasy in the windy conditions, as he called the trainer before the third set to massage his left leg, but, as he always did, he found it. a way to come out on top.
Asked about medical time, Djokovic said: “We don’t have much time to start naming the many injuries I have, and the list is very long.
“I still continue to play. These are the situations you have to face, as a professional athlete. Accept it. Sometimes you need help from (a) physio during the game. Sometimes you need pills. Sometimes you need help from the god or angels, or anyone.
“The reality for me now is that my body is responding differently than it was a few years ago. I finished the game.”
Carlos Alcaraz extended his winning streak to 10 matches in Grand Slams
Djokovic may meet Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals, and the world No 1 had an easier time reaching round four, defeating Denis Shapovalov 6-1 6-4 6-2.
Alcaraz suffered a breakdown in the second set but won five straight games before breaking through in the final set.
“I felt great, I think I played a great level the whole match,” said Alcaraz, who then met with Musetti.
“In the second set I had a bit of a problem, I started making a lot of mistakes but I have to be here all the time, to be mentally strong. That’s what I did. I hope to get this level of next round.”
It was a day of long matches, with the Italian Lorenzo Sonego fought back from two sets down to beat seventh seed Andrey Rublev, while the Austrian qualifier Sebastian Ofner Fabio Fognini lost in five sets.
After his epic win over Stan Wawrinka, Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis is in another long fight with the 11th seed Karen Khachanov but could not force a decider, losing 6-4 6-1 3-6 7-6 (7-5).
The Russian Khachanov refused to answer questions about the war in Ukraine afterwards, saying: “I’m a sportsman, I’m not a politician. I don’t want to talk here about politics because, first of all, no I’m good at it. And, second of all, it’s not my job.”
