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Great Britain leads Australia 1-0 at the United Cup in Perth after the first duel. Cameron Norrie and Alex de Minaur embraced an entertaining match at RAC Arena, and the Briton prevailed 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 in two hours and 20 minutes.
Cameron left the second set behind and started all over in the decider, fending off a single break point and sealing the deal in the tie break. Norrie dominated with his first serve, delivering one of his career-best performances.
However, the Briton struggled behind the second serve, an element he will try to improve in the upcoming duels. The encounter offered only six break points, with the home star getting broken once in the opener and earning two breaks in set number two.
They stayed neck and neck in the decider, and Norrie grabbed it with five mini-breaks. De Minaur made a terrible start, netting a backhand in the encounter's first game and falling behind. The Aussie will serve well in the rest of the duel, experiencing no more setbacks and challenging the Briton.
Cameron Norrie took down Alex de Minaur in Perth.
Cameron earned an early boost and rode on it for the rest of the set. The Briton confirmed the break with a hold at 15 in game two and fired an ace in game six for 4-2. Alex served to stay in the set at 3-5 and fired a forehand down the line winner to prolong the battle.
However, a left-hander held at love at 5-4, wrapping up the opener after 35 minutes. The Aussie denied a break point at the start of the second set after an extended exchange, gaining a boost and producing two fine holds after that.
Norrie lost the ground behind the initial shot in the middle of the set, wasting game points at 2-3 and losing serve after de Minaur's forced error. The home star painted a forehand down the line winner in the eighth game, producing another break and clinching the set 6-2, gaining a boost ahead of the decider.
There was nothing to separate them at the start of the final set, with five commanding holds and a 3-2 lead for de Minaur. Cameron played against a break point in the sixth game, causing the rival's mistake and passing the only challenging service game of the set.
The Briton held after deuce in game eight, and they produced four commanding holds for a deciding tie break. Norrie painted a forehand down the line winner in the fourth point for 3-1 and grabbed another mini-break with a crafty slice in the next one.
A smash winner pushed Cameron 5-2 in front, and he created four match points after Alex's mistake. De Minaur hit a double fault on the first, dropping the breaker 7-2 and propelling his rival over the top.