Battle of Britain – Cincy second round marks second meeting for Murray and Norrie

The Western & Southern Open draw is certainly making headlines when it comes to Andy Murray.

Murray’s first-round match was a showdown between three-time Grand Slam champions, as the 35-year-old Scot got the best of Stan Wawrinka 7-6(3), 5-7, 7-5 on Monday afternoon. His reward is a second-round date with Cameron Norrie in what will be an all-British contest.

There won’t be any surprises out there for me.

Andy Murray

As countrymen, Murray and Norrie know each other quite well. Therefore there should not be any secrets in terms of style of play on Wednesday.

“He is very different to how Stan plays, being a lefty,” Murray said of Norrie. “Flat on the backhand, heavy topspin on the forehand. We have spent a little bit of time on the court together, so there won’t be many surprises out there for me.”

Murray beat Norrie in their only previous encounter

They have also gone head-to-head once before. At the 2019 Beijing event it was Murray who prevailed 7-6(6), 6-7(4), 6-1. Norrie — who beat Holger Rune in three sets on Monday — is a much different player now and has to be considered the favorite to win as the world No 11. There is some good news for Murray, though, in that he gets a day off following his grueling victory over Wawrinka.

“I don’t know if I have a day off,” the 35-year-old said. “I hope so. If not, I’m going to go and ask for one now!”

Whether he had to ask for one or not, Murray’s request was granted. There are only four second-round men’s singles matches on Tuesday — Daniil Medvedev’s and Carlos Alcaraz’s included — and Murray-Norrie is not one of them.

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