LONDON (AFP) – Cameron Norrie made a winning return to grass after last year’s run to the Wimbledon semi-finals as the British number one beat Miomir Kecmanovic in the Queen’s Club first round on Monday. Norrie saw off Serbia’s Kecmanovic 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) at the Wimbledon warm-up event in west London.
Just two weeks after losing in the French Open third round on the clay of Paris, Norrie is building towards the start of Wimbledon on July 3.
He was beaten by eventual champion Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon last four just over a year ago.
The 27-year-old, who finished as Queen’s runner-up in 2021, let three match points slip against Kecmanovic before clinching the victory at the fourth attempt. “It feels good to be back on the grass and back here playing in London in front of a full crowd,” Norrie said.
“It wasn’t easy to get over the line. I had a couple of chances towards the end of the second set and I donated my serve at 3-1 up.
“I had a number of match points and it was just nice to see that forehand fly long at the end. It’s always tricky, the first match on grass. I was really happy to get over the line.”
Two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray knows what he needs to do at Queen’s this week in order to achieve a seeded ranking at the All England Club.
Murray, a five-time winner of Queen’s, arrives at the tournament boosted by successive titles on the Challenger Tour.
The 36-year-old’s successes in Nottingham and Surbiton took him up to 38 in the world, his highest ranking since his hip surgery.
