Cameron Norrie’s title defense in Lyon ended in a one-sided loss to Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo in the semi-finals of the ATP Tour event.
Of more concern than the 6-3 6-0 loss, however, was Norrie’s physical condition, with the British No.1 clutching his stomach on points during the second set.
Norrie is Britain’s main hope for success at Roland Garros, where he is due to start his campaign on Monday against eccentric Frenchman Benoit Paire.
The 27-year-old won his fourth ATP title in Lyon last year but lost serve in the opener against Cerundolo and never seemed to want to return to the competition.
It looked like he might retire when he headed to his bench in the opener of the second set, but Norrie at least managed to finish the game.
Speaking afterwards, Norrie said: “He played better than me and that was reflected in the scoreline. I was disappointed with my level compared to the other two matches.
“I played a few matches before Roland-Garros, that’s exactly what I came here for. It was a tough outing but he played better than me and deserved the win.”
Renowned for his physical prowess, Norrie must now focus on his efforts to ensure he is in top form for the second Grand Slam event of the year.
Sky Sports