Cameron Norrie crashes out of US Open after third round to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina

Cameron Norrie is out of the US Open after a third round defeat to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in four sets.

The 25-year-old reached this stage of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career after beating Federico Coria in the second round.

But Britain's number four lost a narrow first-set tiebreak and struggled to dominate against the energetic Spaniard.

A short spell in the third set cost Norrie badly as he lost eight games in a row, allowing 21-year-old Davidovich Fokina to seal a 7-6, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory in just under three hours on Court 5.

In a closely-fought first set, Norrie suffered an early setback after a break in the third game but quickly responded before a series of holds sent the first set to a tiebreak.

It was there where the cool-headed Fokina held his nerve and dominated the tiebreak 7-2 to strike first, forcing Norrie to show more ambition.

It seemed that would be the case when he went 4-2 up and had the chance to secure a double break. But Fokina clung on valiantly, making Norrie wait and wait until finally securing the second set 6-4.

That he had hit 35 unforced errors in the first two sets showed just how Norrie was struggling to limit his mistakes but when he secured an early break in the third at 2-1, it seemed it was his match for the taking.

But credit to Fokina, who bounced back in devastating fashion - securing a phenomenal eight games in a row and winning 32 of 40 points in that run to clinch the third set 6-2.

Norrie's level had dropped at an alarming rate and a run-in with the umpire certainly didn't help his frustrations as Fokina took full advantage to seal his place in the second week of the US Open.

A disappointing defeat for Norrie but one that he will take in his stride after getting a taste for tennis at the top level. Hopefully, he will be back not before too long.