'I was pretty mad' - Cameron Norrie digs in to beat Holger Rune and reach Open Parc Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes Lyon final
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Updated 20/05/2022 at 20:46 GMT
Cameron Norrie is one win away from a first title on clay after beating Holger Rune 6-2 5-7 6-4 at the Open Parc Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes Lyon. The No. 1 seed, who lost in the final to Stefanos Tsitsipas 12 months ago, will take on Alex Molcan for the title after he eased to a 7-6(2) 6-2 win over Alex de Minaur.
Top seed Norrie to face Molcan in the Lyon Open final
For the second time in as many days, Cameron Norrie overcame a wobble to advance to the final of the Open Parc Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes Lyon.
On Thursday, Norrie passed up a clutch of match points before eventually getting over the line to beat Sebastian Baez.
He followed up on Friday, advancing to the final in Lyon for the second year in a row - but the 6-2 5-7 6-4 win over Holger Rune was not straightforward.
Norrie looked set for a comfortable passage to the final when leading by a set and a break, but Danish teenager Rune battled back and forced a deciding set.
Rune is a rising star of the game, but the 19-year-old is finding his feet at the top level and began to struggle with fatigue. It opened the door for Norrie, and he closed out the win to move within one match of a first title on clay.
"It's never easy finishing a match," Norrie said. "To have the break there in the second and then I kind of gifted a couple of easy ones. I was pretty mad inside but I managed to stay composed.
"I was just trying to tell myself, 'stay positive, stay with it'. I managed to play the two best games of the match in the last two games.
"Hopefully I can go a step further and win the title. It's perfect preparation for Roland Garros."
Standing between the top seed and the title is Alex Molcan who eased to a 7-6(2) 6-2 win over Alex de Minaur.
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