Cam Norrie set up a second-rounder with top seed Alexander Zverev as the British No. 2 overcame a slow start to overhaul Croat Dino Prizmic 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 while Jack Draper suffered another collapse in form on Thursday at the Cincinnati Masters.

Norrie, a Montreal quarter-finalist who had not won a match here since 2022, seized the initiative in the second set against Prizmic and bolted into the second round despite feeling sluggish.

“It was a quick turnaround from Montreal. I couldn’t feel the ball and was a bit under the weather,” the No. 37 said.

“He came out firing and I had to stay tough. I could see he was struggling with the conditions. There was one break in the third set, not much in there.”

Norries takes an 0-7 record into his match with Zverev, an opening-match loser in Montreal who said he played one of the worst matches of his career in Canada.

https://www.atptour.com/en/video/highlights-norrie-rallies-past-prizmic-sets-zverev-clash-in-cincinnati-2026

Draper managed a 5-2 lead in his second set against Spain’s Martin Landaluce, but was twice unable to serve his way into a deciding third set, taking a 6-3, 7-5 defeat in two hours..

The No. 143 Brit whose career has often been a never-ending run of injuries and disappointment, missed on six set point chances, turned in a dozen double faults.

The loss came just days after his tearful outburst after going down in the Montreal first round.

Prior to Montreal, he last played in Eastbourne and has shown up for just 14 Tour matches this season.

That was all just fine for the 64th-ranked Landaluce, who benefitted form almost 50 Draper unforced errors.

“The important thing was to believe in my game and my shots. I can have some big misses but I don’t care. At the end I was making good shots,” the Spaniard said..

“If I lose like that, I don’t care. Today I got the win and I’m very happy.”

Andy Murray will give his coaching attempt with Jack Draper another go this week in Washington as the injury-prone Brit attempts a comeback after dropping out of Wimbledon and skewering his debut with his famed compatriot.

Murray has patiently adjusted to the waiting game with Draper, a one-time national No. 1 now ranked 147.

The pair will attempt to kick start their coaching relationship in steamy conditions in Washington as the pre-US open hardcourt season kicks off in the US capital.

Since announcement of the collaboration last May, Draper has only played one event, reaching the home semi-finals at Eastbourne.

But the Wimbledon partnership was put on hold by yet another injury to the fragile 24-year-old, who did not compete from last September until Davis Cup in February due to bone bruising in his serving arm.

Bringing three-time Grand Slam winner Murray on board had originally been billed as a deal of only a few weeks. Draper has played in only six events this season, winning eight of 13 matches.

Sky Sports reported that Sir Andy and his new pupil had been spotted on a practice court in Washington this week.

Main photo:- Sir Andy Murray takes a training time out with Jack Draper in Washington

Alexander Zverev intensified his quest for a second straight Grand Slam title, with the Wmbledon second seed rolling over France’s Valentin Royer 6-1, 6-3, 7-6 (3) on Thursday for a third-round spot.

The German earned his first career title at a major last month with victory at Roland Garros as he beat Flavio Cobolli.

The All England Club grass counts as the weakest link for Zverev, who has never passed the fourth round here while making the final at the other three majors.

The second seed dispatched Royer in two hours, overcoming a minor setback in the third set when he was broken for 4-all and had to win in a tiebreaker on his third match point.

“I played almost perfect tennis for two and a half sets, but I lost focus. I’m happy to get through in straights without another set,” he said.

“It’s nice to win easier at the beginning of the event. I’m getting to an age where you need to save energy. That also builds confidence.

“I love Wimbledon but I’m still waiting for a big result here. You have to take every match extremely seriously and play at 100 percent.”

Fifth seed Alex de Minaur spent less than two hours in dismantling Adrian Mannarino, with the Australian advancing to the third round 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.

De Minaur has a best here of a 2024 quarter-final, reaching the second week on three occasions. 

The Aussie ended with seven aces and the same number of double-faults while saving nine of the 11 break points he faced from the veteran Frenchman.

American sixth seed Taykor Fritz came to Wimbledon without his usual security blanket – a title at the run-up event at Eastbourne – but still managed a 6-2, 6-2, 7-5 defeat of compatriot Patrick Kypson in two hours.

Fritz skipped Eastbournre last month to rest and has won the title on the English south coast four times since 2019.

So far, his strategy has paid off with a pair of straight-set wins in his opening Wimbledon matches.

No. 113 Kypson saved three match points before lobbing long on a fourth as Fritz advanced to the third round.

“I’m happy I was able to avoid a tiebreaker, avoid a fourth set and get it done in three,” the winner said.

“All of my best results here – two quarter-finals and a semi one year ago – have come after winning Eastbourne.

“I like the feeling of coming onto court with that confidence and just keep the rhythm going into Wimbledon.”

Fritz added: “I felt a little nervy in the beginning, it’s sometimes tough to trust my shots when it’s so windy,” Fritz said.

“I settled into the match well, did a good job returning his serve. I thought I served really well most of the match, outside of just one game.

“In the end it was just a clean match.” 

Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego had to work for nealry four and a half hours before finally defeating Canadian Gabriel Diallo 7-6 (4), 4-6, 7-6 (4).

French-born Arthur Fery kept British men’s hopes alive as he beat Finnish qualifier Otto Virtanen 5-7, 7-6 (3), 6-3, 6-3 to next play Belgian Zizou Bergs.

Eastbourne champion Bergs is on a roll after winning his seventh consecutive match and 20th of the season.  

Rafael Jodar finished up a match halted by Wednesday darkness, winning an all-Spanish battle with veteran Pablo Carreno Busta 3-6, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 after nearly four hours.