Last Brit standing at Melbourne Park: Norrie weathers rain and Nava to reach round of 32
Cameron Norrie edged out Emilio Nava 6-1, 7-6 (3), 4-6, 7-6 (5) on Wednesday night and will play Alexander Zverev, the No 3 seed in the next round
Cameron Norrie, Australian Open 2026 | © Imago / PsNewz
Cameron Norrie became the sole remaining British representative in the singles draws on Wednesday night, overcoming a late rain delay and a gritty Emilio Nava to secure a hard-fought four-set victory in Melbourne.
The 26th seed held his nerve during a high-stakes fourth-set tiebreak to avoid a second consecutive five-set marathon, ensuring a veteran presence remains for Great Britain in the tournament’s third round.
The atmosphere on Court 7 was electric as Norrie battled both the world No. 89 and the elements. After racing through a dominant 6-1 opening set, Norrie was pushed to the limit by the 24-year-old American qualifier, who served for the second set before the Briton clawed back to win it in a tiebreak. Nava refused to fade, snatching the third set and pushing the fourth into a decider that was dramatically interrupted by rain with Norrie leading 4-3 in the breaker.
Following a nearly hour-long suspension, Norrie returned to the court with clinical focus, winning three of the next five points to seal the 6-1, 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6(5) victory. The win makes this the third consecutive Grand Slam where the 30-year-old Norrie has outlasted all of his compatriots.
NORRIE : “where’s the after party?”
Earlier on Wednesday, British hopes had taken a significant hit with the second-round exits of Emma Raducanu (lost to Potapova) and qualifying standout Arthur Fery (lost to Etcheverry).
Reflecting on the rowdy support from the Melbourne crowd, a delighted Norrie shared a lighthearted moment during his on-court interview. “The atmosphere is amazing. Unreal, thank you guys for staying,” he said, before jokingly asking the chanting fans, “The big question: where’s the after party?”
Norrie now advances to the third round for the third time in his career, where he will face either the 3rd seed Alexander Zverev.
