Cameron Norrie Overcomes Pre-Match Jitters to Advance in Delray Beach Open
Cameron Norrie faced pre-match nerves but successfully reached the last 16 of the Delray Beach Open with a solid 7-5, 6-4 victory over American qualifier Zachary Svajda. The British No. 2, who won this tournament in 2022, has faced challenges on hard courts this season but managed to secure a crucial win in near 30-degree temperatures.
The match saw Norrie and Svajda exchange four breaks of serve within the first six games, with Norrie clinching the first set by breaking Svajda again in the 12th game. In the second set, Svajda threatened to push the match to a third set after recovering from an early break, but Norrie fought back to close out the match.
“I’m very satisfied,” Norrie stated in his post-match interview. “It’s very uncomfortable out here. The Florida heat is getting to me a little bit. I was pretty nervous coming in, not moving my feet very well, but I was really happy with how I finished both sets.”
Reflecting on the match, Norrie acknowledged the challenges posed by his opponent, saying, “Zach made it difficult. He doesn’t give you much energy, which made it tough to push, but I was happy with how I finished the match.”
This season, after competing on clay courts in South America, Norrie arrived in Florida seeking a change in conditions but found the heat just as demanding. “I think it’s important to get wins like this when you’re very nervous and uncomfortable. I can take a lot of confidence from that,” he said.
Norrie plans to enjoy a day off before his next match, stating, “I’ll relax and hopefully enjoy the beach a little bit to get ready for my match on Wednesday.”
