Indian Wells Open: Katie Boulter and Cameron Norrie beaten in third round
Norrie won his biggest professional title in the 2021 Tough Championship, but was beaten by Home Hope Paul this time, who will play Russia’s fifth seed Daniil Medvedev next.
“It’s a super weird game, a lot of rest,” Paul said.
“I started well and tried to play some aggressive tennis. It was a game of up and down between the two sides.”
Both players struggled in the first set in the first session since 2022.
Norrie, ranked 77th in the world, was broken three times before crossing the opening match with a double malfunction in Game 2.
In the second set, Norry once again found himself beating himself 4-2 but gathered to level before Paul’s serve 0-30.
Paul fought back before taking advantage of Norrie’s mis-planning service, with the British admitting the game with his fifth double and seventh hit percentage.
Draper Facing the 13th seed of US Jensen Brooksby on Monday.
Medvedev improved two games in his uncomfortable rival, Alex Michelsen, while Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas defeated Italy’s Matteo Berrettini 6-3 6-3.
