Norrie kicks off Lyon Open title defence with win
British number one Cameron Norrie moved into the quarter-finals of the Lyon Open with a 6-3 6-4 victory over David Goffin.
Defending champion Norrie needed 89 minutes to see off the Belgian and saved five break points before he set up a last-eight meeting with Sebastian Baez.
This was Norrie’s 12th win at the venue and 50th overall on clay after winning the tournament last year and reaching the final in 2021.
After suffering early exits on clay in Madrid, Barcelona and Monte Carlo in recent months, the world number 14 – who was involved a frosty encounter with Novak Djokovic earlier this month – will hope to enjoy further success in Lyon before next week’s French Open.
Mikael Ymer was disqualified from the ATP 250 event during his last-16 tie with Arthur Fils.
The opening set was level at 5-5 when Ymer made his frustration clear during the 11th game that he felt a Fils shot had landed out.
Ymer was involved in a lengthy debate with the umpire before home favourite Fils went on to break and move 6-5 ahead.
As Swedish player Ymer walked back to his chair, he smashed his racket into the umpire’s chair and was disqualified.
Elsewhere at the Lyon Open, top seed Felix Auger-Aliassime beat qualifier Pablo Llamas Ruiz 7-5 6-2 and American Tommy Paul edged out Frenchmen Gregoire Barrere 7-6 (6) 4-6 6-3.
Casper Ruud and Taylor Fritz progressed into the Geneva Open quarter-finals with straight sets victories over JJ Wolf and Marcos Giron respectively.
