Metz
Norrie completes the mission of Van Assche's revenge in Metz
Home hope Bonzi upsets Ruud, plays Halys in QFs
November 06, 2024
Moselle Open/Chryslene Caillaud
Cameron Norrie defeated Luca Van Assche on Wednesday at the Moselle Open in Metz.
By ATP staff
The payoff was good for Cameron Norrie on Wednesday at the Moselle Open.
The Briton defeated #NextGenATP home favorite Luca Van Assche 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 to book his quarter-final spot at the tough indoor ATP 250. Looking to avenge a three-set loss to Van Assche on the road. On the ATP Challenger Tour last month, Norrie delivered an emphatic third-set display to seal a one-hour, 52-minute victory in Metz.
“Luca and I played a few weeks ago against Roanne in the Challenger and he got me last time, so it was nice to face him again and get a chance to get revenge,” said Norrie. “I respect him a lot. He is very difficult to play and I had to work hard and come up with some good things, especially in the third set, to get the break. Then I was able to control myself until I worked, but it was a big credit to Luca for coming out and competing the way he did.”
Lightning fast response ⚡️⚡️@cam_norrie beat Van Assche 6-3 3-6 6-1 to reach the last 8 in Metz!@MoselleOpen | #MoselleOpen pic.twitter.com/hmfFQ7gE6v
– ATP Tour (@atptour) November 6, 2024
Norrie converted three of six break points from Van Assche, according to Infosys ATP Stats. The former No. 8 in the PIF ATP Rankings, who this week will compete as No. 57 in the world after an injury-ravaged 2024, will face Zizou Bergs, who got past Hugo Gaston 6-4, 7-5.
“I'm just trying to play the point, and I'm excited to compete in the last week of the year for me,” said Norrie, who will compete in the quarterfinals of the ATP Tour starting in April in Barcelona. “It's been a good week so far. I just want to take it for granted and live in Metz one day. I want to continue and I will definitely have to keep raising my level to have a chance to advance in this tournament.”
Although he lost to Van Assche, there were many home fans who were happy about it on Wednesday in Metz. Quentin Halys started the day with a 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 win in the all-French match against Pierre-Hugues Herbert, while Benjamin Bonzi later upset second-seeded Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-4.
Bonzi earned 85 percent (33/39) points after his debut in his first Lexus ATP Head2Head tournament with World No. 7 Ruud. It was the biggest win of the 28-year-old's career, and he will next face Halys in a tour-level quarter-final from February 2023.
