(Tennis news) Britain’s number 1 tennis player Cameron Norrie was knocked out of the Monte Carlo Masters after being defeated in three sets by Spain's Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-4 2-6 6-4. Norrie, who received a bye in the first round, managed to recover from a set and a break down to force a decider while his Spanish opponent struggled with an abdominal injury. The match took a total of two hours and 32 minutes and Albert Ramos-Vinolas won his eighth match against a player from the top 10 rankings.

The Spaniard has now won all four matches against Norrie on clay but the British player defeated Ramos-Vinolas on the grass surface at Queens last year. Norrie served a break-point at the opening game of the match with two aces but was eventually broken in his seventh game and was not able to convert his only break point of the set. Ramos-Vinolas managed to break in the opening set of the seventh game and held a 2-0 lead but Norrie managed a stunning comeback, winning the next six games in a row including three breaks of serve, to set up a decider.

Ramos-Vinolas struggled with an abdominal injury but rediscovered his form and momentum after taking painkillers and eventually secured the win. Speaking after the match, the Spaniard said “We always have good matches and he's in the top 10 so for me today it's a great win. I started off well and was 2-0 up in the second set but tennis is like this. I lost seven (games) in a row but somehow I started to play good and I'm happy to be in the next round." 

In other results, British number 2 Dan Evans was also knocked out of the Monte Carlo Masters after losing in straight sets against David Goffin. The Belgian managed to save five break points in the opening set and won the tie break to seal a 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 win. Germany’s Alexander Zverev defeated Federico Delbonis and Andrey Rublev overcame Alex de Minaur 2-6 6-1 6-4 to reach the Round of 16 while Lorenzo Musetti defeated Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-2 7-6 (7-2). 

Miami Open champion Carlos Alcaraz lost to Sebastian Korda 7-6(2) 6-7(5) 6-3. Speaking after the match, Korda said “After losing to a Spaniard in Indian Wells and serving for it, it was nice to get a victory today. I had to just stay calm and believe in my return. Every time you'd throw up the ball, it would move around. It was super tough to serve today but I'm super happy with the way I handled myself. I did get a lot of good practice on my return, but I don't know what to say. It was a crazy match!"

Also read: Djokovic knocked out of Monte Carlo Masters to to Davidovich Fokina