Advertisement

Britain’s Cameron Norrie drafted in for ATP Finals at 11th hour to replace injured Stefanos Tsitsipas

 (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Cameron Norrie will make his debut at the Nitto ATP Finals on Wednesday after Stefanos Tsitsipas withdrew through injury.

The British No1 travelled to the prestigious end-of-season tournament as second alternate after narrowly missing out on qualifying for the eight-man event but, with Jannik Sinner already replacing fellow Italian Matteo Berrettini, he has been given an unexpected chance.

Norrie, the first British singles player to appear at the tournament since Andy Murray won the title five years ago, will take on Norway’s Casper Ruud on Wednesday evening before meeting Novak Djokovic on Friday.

To stand a chance of qualifying he would need to win both matches and hope other results go his way but, with 200 ranking points and more then £120,000 at stake for each group contest, there is plenty to play for.

Tsitsipas was a doubt for the tournament after withdrawing from the Paris Masters two weeks ago with a right elbow problem, and he declined to answer a question on his fitness after losing his opening match to Andrey Rublev.

Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares’ campaign looks set to end in the group stages after they suffered a second straight defeat in Turin.

After losing to Britain’s Joe Salisbury and American Rajeev Ram on Monday, Murray and Brazilian Soares were beaten 6-2, 6-4 by Colombian duo Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah.

Murray and Soares are not yet out of contention for the semi-finals, but it would take a specific series of results over the last three matches in the group to give them any chance.

Murray and Soares were immediately on the back foot when the Scot’s serve was broken in the opening game, and it was the Colombians who were able to take their chances.

Murray and Soares staged a late rally from 2-5 in the second set but were unable to turn the match around.

Second seeds Salisbury and Ram will take on French duo Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut later on Wednesday.

Read More

Cameron Norrie sees ATP Finals hopes ended as Hubert Hurkacz sets up clash with Novak Djokovic

Davis Cup Finals 2021: Cameron Norrie to lead Great Britain with Andy Murray out

Andy Murray: Cameron Norrie’s a ‘great example’ of what you can achieve with dedication

Cameron Norrie wins Indian Wells final to claim biggest title of his life