Norrie secures De Minaur showdown in Monte Carlo following intense three-set contest

Britain's Cameron Norrie has advanced to the second round of the Monte-Carlo Masters, where he will face Alex de Minaur, after overcoming a challenging three-set match against Miomir Kecmanovic, ranked 58th in the world. Norrie, ranked 24th globally, initially took the lead by winning the first set 6-2 but then struggled in the second set, losing 6-4. He regained his composure in the third set, dominating the tie-break 7-0, and ultimately emerged victorious when Kecmanovic hit a forehand out of bounds. This win marks Norrie's first victory in Monte-Carlo since 2019. Prior to this, Norrie had reached the quarter-finals in Indian Wells, where he was defeated by world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz, and was then eliminated in the second round in Miami by Alex Michelsen. His fellow countryman, Jack Draper, is currently recovering from an arm injury and opted to skip the Monte-Carlo Masters. Draper had been sidelined for six months due to a bruised bone in his serving arm but made his return during the Davis Cup tie against Norway in February. He then participated in the ATP 500 event in Dubai, reaching the second round. In other news, British women's No 2 Katie Boulter, who is engaged to Norrie's upcoming opponent De Minaur, will compete in the Linz Open, facing Gabriela Ruse in the last 32. Meanwhile, Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from the tournament in Austria as she continues to recover from an illness contracted in the Middle East earlier this year.