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 eliminated by the tournament’s fifth seed, Jessica Pegula, on Friday. The British No.
1 started strongly against the Czech, cruising to a 6‑2 win in the opening set. However, the momentum shifted in the second set when Machac saved a match point and pushed the contest to a tiebreak. Norrie eventually slipped behind 5‑3 in the decider, finding himself on the brink of defeat.
In a dramatic turn, he broke Machac’s serve at a crucial juncture when the Czech was serving for the match, forcing a tie‑break that Norrie won 7‑5. The final scoreline read 6‑2, 6‑7 (6‑8), 7‑6 (7‑5), and Norrie described the encounter as one of the most enjoyable matches of his career.
"I was feeling the ball really well in the first set, but the second was a real battle and I had to dig deep in the third when I was down a break," Norrie told Sky Sports. "It was so, so good. It was one of the favourite matches of my career – the atmosphere was electric and it tested me in so many ways.
These are the kind of matches where you can get through them and go on to have a great week." Following his victory, Norrie will face either Argentine hopeful Thiago Agustín Tirante, who recently dispatched the 15th‑seeded American Tommy Paul, or another opponent depending on the draw. Norrie, who reached the quarter‑finals of the Barcelona Open the week before, has never progressed beyond the third round in Madrid, making this win a significant milestone in his quest for deeper runs at the event. In the women's draw, 29‑year‑old Katie Boulter was unable to join Norrie in the next round.
She fell 6‑4, 6‑4 to the United States’ Jessica Pegula, who entered the tournament as the fifth seed. Boulter had previously accompanied her fiancé, Australian player Alex de Minaur, onto the court after his own disappointing loss to Spanish youngster Rafael Jodar. While Boulter put up a respectable fight, the double disappointment was a tough pill for the couple to swallow.
Elsewhere in Madrid, 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 titles at Indian Wells, the Miami Open, and the Monte Carlo Masters.
Women’s champion Elena Rybakina overcame a shaky start to beat Romania’s Elena Gabriela Ruse 4‑6, 6‑3, 7‑5, while American sensation Coco Gauff dispatched Leolia Jeanjean 6‑3, 6‑0 to secure a spot in the third round. The Madrid Open continues to deliver high‑octane tennis, with both ATP and WTA matches available live on Sky Sports or via the NOW streaming platform and the Sky Sports app. Subscribers to Sky Sports can enjoy more than 50 percent additional live sport coverage this year at no extra charge.
For those looking to follow the action, the Sky Sports app provides scores, results, upcoming fixtures, video highlights, and full‑length match replays. Fans are encouraged to use the Chrome browser for optimal video playback, ensuring a smoother viewing experience.
As the tournament progresses, the British contingent will be watching closely to see if Norrie can build on his impressive performance and perhaps become the first Briton in recent memory to break past the third round in Madrid. Meanwhile, Boulter will regroup and aim to bounce back in upcoming events, hoping to translate the lessons learned from her encounter with Pegula into future success on the tour. Overall, the Madrid Open has offered a blend of thrilling comebacks, dominant displays, and emerging storylines that promise to keep tennis enthusiasts engaged throughout the week.
Whether you are a casual fan or a dedicated follower of the sport, the tournament’s schedule is packed with matches that showcase the depth and talent across both the men’s and women’s fields, making it a must‑watch event on the international tennis calendar.