Cameron Norrie suffers Australian Open third-round exit after being stunned by Jiri Lehecka in five sets
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ByEurosport
Updated 20/01/2023 at 09:38 GMT
Jiri Lehecka beat Cameron Norrie in the third round of the Australian Open over five sets in the latest surprise result of this year's tournament. The Brit was leading 2-1 until his Czech opponent battled back to claim the final two sets and book a meeting with Felix Auger-Aliassime in round four. Stream the 2023 Australian Open live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.co.uk.
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Cameron Norrie’s Australian Open dreams are over following a five-set 7-6 3-6 6-3 1-6 4-6 loss to Jiri Lehecka.
Despite an encouraging but nervy start to take the first set on a tie-break, the Brit was pegged back in the second.
But having seized the advantage once again in the third, Norrie wilted as the Czech dominated the fourth.
Norrie looked to be struggling with injury and despite a brief fightback in the fifth, Lehecka powered through to book his place in the fourth round. His reward is a match against No. 6 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime.
The Briton looked well set to progress to the fourth round when easing into a two sets to one lead over Lehecka. But the Czech player, ranked 59 places below Norrie, found a change of gear to storm through the fourth set for the loss of one game.
Lehecka kept the forward momentum in the fifth, and broke the back of the match by securing a double break.
Norrie attempted to turn things back in his favour and whipped up the crowd on Kia Arena when getting one of the breaks back, and the Brit held serve in the ninth game to force his opponent to serve out.
With a place in a fourth round of a Grand Slam at stake for the first time in his career, nerves could have played a part. But there were no outward signs of them as Lehecka held to love, closing out the match when an exasperated Norrie threw a drop shot into the net.
Norrie beat Lehecka earlier in the year in Auckland, but the Czech was confident he had the game to take down the world No. 11.
"I knew and felt that I could beat him,” Lehecka said. "Cameron is playing incredibly. To find tactics on him is so tough. The only thing I learned was to never give up, to fight for every ball and grind as much as I can. I am happy I am through.”
On reaching the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time, Lehecka said: "I feel amazing and ready for the next round. Last year was tough for me, Grand Slams for the first time and never going through the first round, so for me to be here I knew I could be here and knew I could win. I am super-happy to be through and we are not at the end.”
Auger-Aliassime is up next for Lehecka, and the 21-year-old is looking forward to the challenge.
"Me and my team will do everything to get ready,” Lehecka said. "I am ready.”
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Lehecka upsets Britain's Norrie in five sets at Australian Open
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Stream the 2023 Australian Open live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.co.uk.
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