Norrie suffers home loss to Finnish spoiler

Cam Norrie fell at the first hurdle on the home grass of Eastbourne on Tuesday, with the No. 44 going down in a 7-6 (9), 6-3 upset loss to Finn Emil Ruusuvuori.

Norrie, who stands behind Stuttgart winner Jack Draper in the British national table, was frustrated by his 88th-ranked opponent, who advanced to the second round in 97 minutes at Devonshire Park.

The Brit suffered a double embarrassment in defeat, losing for the first time in five editions here in the opening round and going down to an  opponent ranked outside Top 50 on Tour-level grass since January, 2019 for only the third time.

Norrie was hammered a week ago in Queen’s by former Wimbledon finalist but current No. 186 Milos Raonic in that first round, leaving his Wimbledon prep with a few gaping holes..

The local failed to convert on any of his seven break points against Ruusuvuori, who won just two matches during the clay season and lost in the first round of the Surbiton grass Challenger a fortnight ago.

The Viking winner ended a five-match loss streak on grass as he put out Norrie, winning his first match on the surface since defeating then-No. 9 Jannik Sinner in a 2023 ‘s-Hertogenbosch quarter-final