Cameron Norrie fought his way past Tomas Machac in a three‑set thriller to secure a place in the third round of the Madrid Open, while his compatriot Katie Boulter was dispatched by the tournament’s fifth seed, Jessica Pegula, on Friday. The British No.
1 opened the match in dominant fashion, cruising to a 6‑2 first set win over the Czech challenger. However, the momentum shifted in the second set when Machac raised his level and forced a tiebreak.
Norrie found himself on the brink of defeat, facing a match point as Machac served for the match at 5‑3. Demonstrating composure under pressure, Norrie broke back and forced a decider, eventually losing the second set 6‑7 after a tight 6‑8 tiebreak.
The third set turned into a nail‑biting contest. With the score tied at 5‑5, Machac again held a break advantage, putting Norrie on the back foot. Yet the British player dug deep, breaking Machac’s serve at a crucial juncture and then holding his own to push the set into a tiebreak.
In the final breaker, Norrie edged out his opponent 7‑5, sealing a 6‑2, 6‑7 (6‑8), 7‑6 (7‑5) victory. He later described the win as one of the "favourite matches" of his career, citing the electric atmosphere and the mental test it provided.
"I was feeling the ball really well in the first set, but the second was a struggle and I had to dig deep in the third when I was down a break," Norrie told Sky Sports. "It was so, so good. The crowd was amazing and the match tested me in so many ways. These are the kind of matches that can give you the confidence to have a great week ahead." Looking ahead, Norrie's next opponent will be determined after the Argentine qualifier Thiago Agustín Tirante completes his own upset, having eliminated the 15th‑seeded American Tommy Paul.
Norrie, who reached the Barcelona Open quarter‑finals just a week earlier, is seeking to break his own record of never advancing beyond the third round in Madrid. On the women's side, Katie Boulter's campaign ended in the second round when she fell 6‑4, 6‑4 to fifth‑seeded Jessica Pegula.
Boulter had accompanied her fiancé, Australian rising star Alex de Minaur, onto the court after his own loss to Spanish hopeful Rafael Jodar. While Boulter fought valiantly, the defeat meant a double disappointment for the couple on the same day. Elsewhere in the tournament, world No. 1 Jannik Sinner rallied from a set down to defeat France's Benjamin Bonzi 6‑7 (6‑8), 6‑1, 6‑4, marking his 18th consecutive victory after recent triumphs at Indian Wells, the Miami Open and the Monte Carlo Masters.
In the women's draw, Elena Rybakina, the reigning Australian Open champion, overcame a shaky start to beat Romania's Elena Gabriela Ruse 4‑6, 6‑3, 7‑5. Coco Gauff also advanced comfortably, dispatching Leolia Jeanjean 6‑3, 6‑0 to secure a third‑round berth. For fans eager to follow the action, live coverage of both the ATP and WTA tours is available on Sky Sports, with streaming options through NOW and the Sky Sports app.
Subscribers can enjoy over 50 percent more live sport this year at no additional charge. To get the best viewing experience, using a Chrome browser is recommended for optimal video playback.
The Madrid Open continues to deliver high‑stakes tennis, with players battling not only each other but also the demanding clay surface that tests endurance, strategy, and mental fortitude. As the tournament progresses, British supporters will be hoping Norrie can capitalize on his hard‑won momentum and perhaps set a new personal best in the capital, while the broader field looks set to produce more dramatic upsets and memorable matches.