Norrie knocked out Zapata Miralles, advances to his second final in a row

Saturday, 25 February 2023 at 23:43

Cameron Norrie had a 3-set battle to defeat Bernabe Zapata Miralles in the Rio Open semifinals.

The second seed continues his good run on the South American clay. Last week, he reached the final of the Argentina Open, where he was defeated by Carlos Alcaraz. Now, he has entered another final where he hopes to win his first ATP 500.

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Norrie faced Bernabe Zapata in the semifinals, who is going through a great moment in his career. The Spaniard has achieved great results in recent weeks that will take him to a historical ranking of top-45 starting next Monday. On his way to the semifinals, he defeated his compatriots Jaume Munar and Albert Ramos-Vinolas, as well as the Argentine Francisco Cerundolo.

The 27-year-old Briton dominated his rival early in the match and got two breaks to win the first set 6-2. Although everything seemed easy for Norrie, the Spaniard improved in the second set and scored an early break to go up 3-0. Holding his serve, he leveled everything at 6-3.

The final set was by far the one that brought out the best tennis from both players. Although the world No. 13 was up 4-2, Zapata Miralles prevailed in the rallies and tied the set 4-4, leading to moments of nervousness for both players. Everything had to be decided in the tie-break, and Norrie was impeccable to prevail and finally win the match 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(3).

In the match that will define the champion, Carlos Alcaraz could be found again on Norrie's path. Alcaraz will play the semifinals against the Chilean Nicolas Jarry to define the second finalist.

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Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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