Norrie tops Tien in Hong Kong tussle

Cameron Norrie’s experience proved enough to overcome Learner Tien’s youthful exuberance on Monday at the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open.

The former No. 8 in the PIF ATP Rankings sealed a 6-3, 7-5 first-round victory in an all-lefty battle at the hard-court ATP 250. Norrie reeled off four games from 3-5 in the second set to clinch a 98-minute triumph against the 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF finalist Tien.

“It was a tough match throughout,” said Norrie in his on-court interview. “I really played a high level and so did he. He won a lot of matches in 2024 and he played really well at Next Gen. I know he’s an up-and-coming player, he hits the ball flat and he’s very calm. I was really impressed with his attitude on the court and I had to tough him out in the end.

“I was down a break in the second set, and in that really long game at 5-5 I got a bit fortunate, and managed to serve really well in that last game. Nothing but respect for Learner, he’s going to be a great player.”

The narrow margin of Norrie’s victory was reflected in the winner count: the Briton edged Tien by 27 winners to 26, while he also converted four of nine break points he earned, according to Infosys ATP Stats. The 29-year-old will take on Lorenzo Sonego, who earlier defeated Brandon Nakashima 7-6(4), 6-3 in the second round. Norrie and Sonego are 1-1 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

Miomir Kecmanovic and Fabian Marozsan were also opening-day winners in Hong Kong. Kecmanovic upset eighth seed Lucanio Darderi 6-3, 6-3, while Marozsan needed seven match points to overcome Roman Safiullin 6-1, 7-6(9).