Norrie crashes out of US Open after Van Assche comeback

Cameron Norrie’s US Open campaign ended in the first round on Tuesday as Luca Van Assche mounted a three-set comeback to claim a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 victory at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The defeat marks the second consecutive year Norrie has been eliminated in the opening round of a Grand Slam, raising fresh questions about his hard-court credentials heading into the autumn swing.

Norrie’s early exit compounds a troubling pattern

Norrie’s first-round loss to Van Assche follows his 2023 US Open exit at the same stage, this time in straight sets to Alexander Zverev. The 28-year-old British No 1 has now failed to progress beyond the second round at three of the last four majors, a stretch that contrasts sharply with his breakthrough 2022 US Open run to the semi-finals. His struggles on hard courts—where he has claimed just three titles since 2021—have become a recurring narrative, particularly as younger rivals like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner consolidate their positions at the sport’s summit.

The defeat also extends Norrie’s winless streak against top-20 opponents this year, a sequence that began with his Wimbledon quarter-final loss to Alcaraz. While hard-court specialists often peak later in the season, Norrie’s inability to string together deep runs in the early autumn swing—despite favourable draws—underscores the need for a technical or tactical reset before the ATP Finals in Turin.

Van Assche’s resilience shifts the narrative

For Van Assche, the win represents a significant step forward in his development. The 22-year-old Frenchman, ranked 40th, had never advanced beyond the second round of a Grand Slam prior to this tournament. His victory over Norrie—his first top-20 scalp—followed a pattern of battling through tight contests, including a five-set triumph over Thanasi Kokkinakis in the second round. The win propels him into the last 16, where he will face either Andrey Rublev or Daniel Evans, a match that could further cement his status as a rising force on hard courts.

Van Assche’s ability to absorb Norrie’s early aggression—particularly in the opening set—highlighted his growing maturity. After dropping the first frame, he tightened his error margins, exploited the Briton’s tendency to overhit on big points, and broke serve at critical junctures in the third and fourth sets. His performance suggests that the next generation of European players is beginning to close the gap on the established elite.

A tactical chess match under the New York lights

Norrie entered the match with a clear game plan: target Van Assche’s backhand wing, extend rallies to test his fitness, and apply pressure on second serves. Early indicators suggested the strategy was working—Norrie broke in the third game of the opener and held comfortably to love, while Van Assche sprayed errors wide under Norrie’s heavy topspin. But the Frenchman adjusted mid-set, stepping inside the baseline to shorten points and redirect cross-court, a tactic that unsettled Norrie’s rhythm.

In the second set, Van Assche’s serve improved markedly, allowing him to hold at love twice and draw level. The turning point arrived in the third set, when Norrie—already frustrated by missed forehands—double-faulted at 3-3 to hand Van Assche a break. From there, the Frenchman’s confidence surged, his groundstrokes finding deeper targets, while Norrie’s movement deteriorated under the weight of unforced errors. By the fourth set, the Briton’s body language had shifted; his once-fluid movement became laboured, and his serve, usually a weapon, was reduced to a liability.

For Norrie, the defeat is a setback but not necessarily a crisis. His next major targets—the indoor hard-court swing and the ATP Finals—offer opportunities to refine his approach before the 2025 Australian Open. For Van Assche, the win is a statement of intent: the Frenchman now has a clear pathway to the top 15, provided he can replicate this level of resilience in high-pressure environments. The US Open has once again reshaped the narrative for both players, with one staring down a potential ranking slide and the other seizing the moment to announce himself on the biggest stage.