Erste Bank Open: Britain’s Cameron Norrie stuns Andrey Rublev with opening victory in Vienna
Britain’s Cameron Norrie sealed an impressive 6-2 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 victory over former champion Andrey Rublev in his opening match at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna.
Norrie recorded his fourth win against top-20 opponents in 2025 with Rublev suffering his fifth consecutive loss as well as a mid-match meltdown – just a day after his 28th birthday.
British No 2 Norrie made a lightning start, breaking his opponent twice in the opening five games, when the seventh seed eventually lost his temper and repeatedly smashed his racket on court.
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“The signature racket break from Andrey Rublev. Not the first time he’s destroyed a bat. He’s given that one the full monty,” said commentator Robbie Koenig.
Rublev was hit with a code violation by the umpire and went on to drop the first set before winning a tense second-set tie-break to force a decider.
But it was Norrie who upped the tempo and ran away with the third set, securing an impressive win and a spot in the second round of the ATP 500 event.
Norrie will face either Alexei Popyrin or Matteo Berrettini in the next round, with the pair set to face off on Wednesday.
Fearnley beaten by Zverev in deciding tie-break
Jacob Fearnley came extremely close to becoming the second Brit to cause an upset on Tuesday but ultimately lost an epic contest 6-4 1-6 7-6 (7-5) to second seed Alexander Zverev.
Fearnley gave up the only break of serve in the first set in the opening game of the match, as Zverev remained comfortable on his own delivery to move ahead.
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However, the Brit would strike back with two breaks of serve in a brilliant second-set display to force a decider.
The only break point of the final set came with Fearnley serving to stay in the match at 4-5, and the Brit gutsily denied Zverev before going on to force a deciding tie-break.
Zverev raced into a 5-1 led, and despite Fearnley saving three more match points to heighten the tension, the German eventually closed the match out to set up a second-round meeting with Italian qualifier Matteo Arnaldi.
Sinner skipping Davis Cup to focus on Australian Open preparations
Jannik Sinner is skipping this year’s Davis Cup Finals on home soil
Jannik Sinner said it was a difficult decision to miss this year’s Davis Cup Finals on home soil but the world No 2 felt that he had to prioritise preparations for his Australian Open title defence.
The 24-year-old, who won at Melbourne Park and Wimbledon this year, was instrumental in Italy’s successful Davis Cup defence in 2024 in Spain but said he was sitting out the tournament set to take place in Bologna from November 18-23.
He will be in Turin a week before the Davis Cup to defend his ATP Finals title, where world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz has also secured his place in the season-ending championship.
“It wasn’t an easy decision, but after Turin, the goal is to get off on the right foot in Australia,” Sinner told Sky Sport Italy. “It may not seem like it, but a week of preparation during that period can make all the difference.
“We won the Davis Cup in 2023 and 2024, and this time we decided this with my team.”
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Highlights as Sinner defeated Learner Tien to win the China Open
Next year’s Australian Open, the opening Grand Slam of the season, runs from January 12-26.
Sinner beat Alcaraz to win the lucrative Six Kings Slam exhibition event in Riyadh on Saturday and will next be in action in Vienna, which he won in 2023.
“We are working hard on my serve. I am fortunate to be able to work continuously with the best team possible,” he said. “I now have some very important tournaments coming up, in Vienna, Paris and Turin.”
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