Cameron Norrie sets up Rafael Nadal showdown at Australian Open | Tennis | Sport
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Cameron Norrie set up a Saturday showdown with Rafaer Nadal after becoming the only British player to reach the third round of the Australian Open.
Heather Watson today joined Jo Konta and Fran Jones in going out in Melbourne. But British No.3 Norrie, who beat Dan Evans in the opening round, stayed alive by beating Russian Roman Safiullin after a rain delay at Melbourne Park.
The match re-started under the roof of the Margaret Court Arena at 10.45pm local time with Norrie two sets to one up. And the world No.69 saw off the world No.183 3-6 7-5 6-3 7-5 before the clock struck midnight.
It is the second Grand Slam in a row that world No.69 Norrie has reached the third round – he also won two matches at the US Open – and is the last British survivor.
Watson revealed she took “painkillers and anti-inflammatories” after suffering spasms in her back and pelvis in a double match yesterday.
The British No.2 won a first set tiebreak but went down 6-7 6-4 6-3 to No. 21 seed Anett Kontaveit.
Watson has won only four Grand Slam singles matches since reaching the third round of Wimbledon in 2017 but spent 16 days in hard lockdown before this tournament.
“When I came I didn’t expect it. I don’t know what I would have done if I had known that I had to do a two-week quarantine.
“It might have been different mentally. But with that being said, I have got through a round here in Australia. I am pleased with how I handled everything from being in the quarantine and after. I am just proud of myself for how I have handled it all.”
Watson added: “I am not hustling to play every single week because I don’t want to be stuck in the situations like what happened here in Australia. It’s just not worth it.
“Then when things like that happen, injuries come into place. I think I have to be really smart with my schedule from now on.”
Norrie told the vocal late-night crowd in the Margaret Court Arena: “I definitely used the crowd support. A huge shoutout to all you guys up there – you were great.
“Keep drinking those tins up there but thanks, you were great.
“Playing out on Court 8 and then coming up out here with a half-capacity crowd, I definitely used the atmosphere to my advantage. It was definitely a different match after that. I think we both raised our level – it was a phenomenal level there at the end. I was really happy to get through that.
“It was nice to play on an indoor court. I am playing Rafa next so it will be on a big court. It was nice to get used to one of these courts.
“I have never played him before. It is definitely a great match and great experience for me. I can’t wait to go out there and show him what I have got.”
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