Cameron Norrie Falls to Kotov in Five-Set Battle at French Open

Cameron Norrie, the British number one, expressed his disappointment after being eliminated in the first round of the French Open by Russian player Pavel Kotov. Kotov, ranked 57th in the world, secured a hard-fought victory over Norrie in five sets, marking only his second win in a Grand Slam tournament. This loss marks Norrie’s first opening-round exit in a major since the 2022 Australian Open.

Norrie’s defeat adds to a string of disappointments for British players at this year’s French Open. Linda Noskova defeated Harriet Dart on day two, while Andy Murray and Jack Draper suffered defeats on day one. Katie Boulter and Dan Evans are now the last two Britons remaining in the singles draw with their matches scheduled for day three. Reflecting on his performance, Cameron Norrie expressed frustration, stating that he had ample opportunities to secure victory but failed to capitalize on them.

Despite leading in the first four sets, Norrie faltered in the crucial moments, allowing Kotov to seize control and ultimately clinch the match. This lapse in performance proved decisive as Kotov secured victory, ending Norrie’s French Open campaign in the first round. Meanwhile, Kotov’s impressive performance earns him a second-round matchup against former champion Stan Wawrinka, who defeated Andy Murray in straight sets on day one.

In another match, British player Harriet Dart put up a spirited fight against Czech opponent Noskova but was unable to secure victory, suffering a 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 defeat. Despite her efforts, Dart was unable to secure victory, ending her French Open campaign in the first round.