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World No 12 Cameron Norrie said he didn't notice that Carlos Alcaraz struggling with a leg injury during the Rio de Janeiro final. On Sunday, second-seeded Norrie upset top-seeded Alcaraz 5-7 6-4 7-5 to win his first title of the season in Rio de Janeiro.
Alcaraz, who missed the Australian Open due to a left leg injury, confirmed he was bothered by the same injury during the Rio de Janeiro final. “Physically I couldn’t finish on the same level. (The leg) influenced (the result) a lot," Alcaraz said after Rio de Janeiro final.
But Norrie didn't notice that Alcaraz was being hampered by an injury. “I didn't see that he had leg problems. I didn't know what it was. For me, maybe it was even better for him because he could be aggressive. I didn't know what was going on," Norrie said after the final, per Break Point.
Norrie gets his revenge against Alcaraz
Just seven days earlier, Norrie suffered a straight-set defeat to Alcaraz in Buenos Aires final. Norrie seemingly learned the lesson from the Buenos Aires final defeat and did much better in the Rio de Janeiro final.
“So special to win this one, especially when I lost a couple finals this year. I had to do it the tough way. I was looking done there and I managed to flick a switch and turn it around. I had to battle a lot of demons the last couple of weeks [on the clay] but I managed to play well in the big moments and that’s what it took today," Norrie reflected.
For Norrie, there won't be much time to rest as he is now scheduled to play in Acapulco. In the Acapulco first round, Norrie has been drawn to play Adrian Mannarino. It remains to be seen if Norrie can also do well in Acapulco.