The Brit Norrie, born in Johannesburg, South Africa, took the long first set with 7–5 and then went with an elegantly angled forehand to 6–3 in the second and heavy 2–0 in sets.
Daniil Medvedev also needed help to bandage his right index finger in the third set, something that would not be taken as a hint that the former world number one would check out of the tournament already after three played sets.
Broke out
The Russian is known for his ability to get out of tricky situations. He won the decisive balls, took the third set with 6–4 – despite two break balls against him at 3–4 – and seemed to have broken Norrie.
The fourth set went lightning-fast, 6–1 to Medvedev, and when the Russian broke Norrie's serve to 2–1 in the fifth and decisive set, it looked clear-cut. But when Medvedev was to serve home the match at 5–4, Norrie broke back, served himself to 6–5, and then broke Medvedev again: game, set, match.
He's so hard to beat. I probably deserve a diploma for having managed to beat Medvedev. He has won the four or five latest matches we've played, so this was an unreal match, says Cameron Norrie in the victory interview in Eurosport's broadcast.
The final set was written to 7–5 and eleventh-seeded Medvedev is out, while Norrie takes on Argentine Federico Gómez in the second round.
The 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic is through to the next round after beating American Mackenzie McDonald with 6–3, 6–3, 6–3. Also, the third-seeded German Alexander Zverev – who fell in last year's final against Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz – won in the first round. American teenager Learner Tien was defeated with 6–3, 6–3, 6–4.
Favourite wins
Mirra Andrejeva, 18, goes from clarity to clarity. The sixth-seeded Russian, semifinalist last year and, like Medvedev, playing under a neutral flag due to the war in Ukraine, got a comfortable ride to the second round via 6–4, 6–3 against Spanish Cristina Bucsa.
Second-seeded Coco Gauff is also through. The American defeated Olivia Gadecki from Australia with 6–2, 6–2.
