Cameron Norrie struggles to find positives after first round loss in Australian Open

After losing all three of his ATP Cup matches earlier this month, Cameron Norrie suffered an early exit from the Australian Open on Monday morning.

Taking on 21-year-old Sebastian Korda, the British No.1 was unable to trouble his American opposition, and had his serve broken at the beginning of each set.

Korda, who made the fourth round of Wimbledon last year, won the first set 6-3, and made it nine games in a row as he won 6-0 in the second and then took a 2-0 lead in the third.

Norrie then eventually found a way back into it, but it was far too late for the 26-year-old, who went on to lose the final set 6-4.

Following his loss, Norrie struggled to find any positives in his performance.

"I think that's maybe my worst match in the last eight months or so," said the 12th seed. "I had a week off to prepare, prepared as well as I could, and just I was slow, I was missing routine backhands, which I never miss.

"I honestly can't put a finger on it. I just need to get better and improve. Lots to work on. Korda was too good today. Any time I had a chance to come back, he served his way out of it. And on the bigger points he was much better than me.

"I didn't play well in really any big point today. That's part of it and just a disappointing way to start the year with this match."

The loss marks another disappointment for Norrie in 2022, after losing all three of his ATP Cup matches earlier this month.

It followed a spectacular 2021 which saw him win the Indian Wells Masters and climb to the verge of the top 10, but Norrie insists the number of games he's played is no excuse for his latest performance.

"I played a lot of matches, but this is what we are paid to do and just not good enough.

"For the last year and a half, I have been playing great on the big points, in the big moments and I have been very quick around the court. Today I didn't do any of that."