Australian Open: Lestienne falls back to earth

Constant Lestienne may have some regrets. Opposed to Cameron Norrie in the second round of the Australian Open, the French offered a great challenge to the 12th player in the world. If the two players competed at the very beginning of the meeting, the Briton very quickly made the experience speak to put his opponent in difficulty. Nevertheless, the first break point was not successful for the tournament’s number 11 seed. Having a guarantor, Constant Lestienne put Cameron Norrie in difficulty, who in turn had to dismiss three break points. A reminder that the Briton has understood. Raising the tone, the 12th world took the service of the Habs with authority before repeating to pocket the first set. But we should not take the 55th player in the world down. Indeed, if Cameron Norrie was able to erase the break conceded in the third game, he could not respond to Constant Lestienne when the latter increased the pace. Winning four games in a row including two breaks, the French equalized at one set everywhere with style.

Norrie did not let Lestienne revive

On its way, the Habs entered perfectly into the third set. Impeccable on his first two break points, he twice took the service of the Briton but the latter, in the meantime, had been able to respond by in turn taking a commitment from the Habs. Leading five games to three and thus serving to win the match, Constant Lestienne faltered and allowed Cameron Norrie to come back up. The Briton then took advantage of the decisive game to take the lead again, leaving only two points to his opponent. At the end of the night, the fourth set initially saw both players miss several opportunities to take each other’s serve. In this little game, it was finally Cameron Norrie who had the last word. Breaking Constant Lestienne to lead five games to three and serve to win the match, the 12th in the world only needed two opportunities to achieve this (6-3, 3-6, 7-6, 6-3 in 3h15 ‘). The Briton will find in the third round Jiri Lehecka, who beat Christopher Eubanks in four sets (6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in 2h16 ‘).