Briton Cameron Norrie (left) and Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz. SERGIO MORAES / REUTERS
The Briton overcame the Spanish prodigy in three sets.
Briton Cameron Norrie beat Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, world No.2, 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 on Sunday in the final of the ATP 500 tournament in Rio de Janeiro (clay), after a ‘a match with twists where the two players multiplied the breaks.
Alcaraz, recent winner against the same Norrie of the Buenos Aires tournament, will thus not have managed to retain his title in Rio.
During an undecided match until the end, the young Spanish star showed signs of nervousness then fatigue, visibly embarrassed by a painful right thigh.
Since returning from injury, Alcaraz had lined up 8 consecutive victories
Having become the youngest No.1 in the world at 19 after his victory at the US Open last year before having to stop for several months to treat an injury to his right leg, Alcaraz had, since his return to Buenos Aires, confirmed his good form by qualifying in Rio for a second final in a row with eight consecutive victories.
But Norrie, 13th player in the world, interrupted the series and showed that Alcaraz was still fragile physically, even nervously. The latter sometimes showed exasperation during a meeting of some 2:41.
The Briton wins the fifth tournament of his career and is now only four wins to two in his confrontations against the Spaniard, after having already beaten him in Cincinnati (United States) on hard last year.