French Open: Cam Norrie salvages hopes of British tennis as he edges past Benoit Paire in five sets

It fell to Cam Norrie, largely reared in New Zealand, to defy a boisterous crowd and halt the past week’s British retreat across the Channel from the French Open.

GB’s indefatigable No 1 was fired up by an unusual and contentious hindrance call as he finally saw off Benoit Paire, his emotions at the end in sharp contrast with those of Jack Draper on a neighbouring court.

Draper described himself as ‘mentally destroyed’ after the latest injury misadventure to befall him, which reduced him to serving underarm before retiring against Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry.

The 21 year-old, by far GB’s best prospect in the men’s game, faces an anxious wait to find out the extent of the damage to his serving shoulder.

Norrie will play another Frenchman, Lucas Pouille, in the second round after his late surge silenced a baying Bank Holiday crowd on Court Suzanne Lenglen.

Cameron Norrie saved the blushes of British tennis after he beat Benoit Paire in five sets

British No 1 Norrie overcame a partisan crowd to become the sole GB survivor into round two

The No 14 seed was 4-2 down in the fifth set before a late sprint to beat Paire 7-5, 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4. 

A day after Dan Evans had been left infuriated by a contentious foot fault call, Norrie was similarly aggrieved by being docked a point for a hindrance after grunting mid-rally early in the second set. The kerfuffle stirred up a packed, febrile crowd who in the third set celebrated Paire’s ascendancy with an impromptu rendition of La Marseillaise.

Norrie is a diplomat compared to the outspoken Evans, but echoed him in wondering whether the umpire – Germany’s Nico Helwerth – was a bit too keen to leave a mark.

‘I don’t know why he felt it was necessary to get involved there, especially he gave me no warning whatsoever and it was a big point,’ said Norrie. ‘ It changed the momentum of the match. With Evo yesterday, he was nowhere near foot faulting and the guy is calling him from the other side of the net.

‘It’s obviously unacceptable. I knew I grunted. What’s happening here? I’m fighting my arse off and one call could obviously influence the match. The momentum was with Benoit after that and he raised his level and used the atmosphere of the crowd.’

Norrie will face a similarly partisan assembly in the second round against Pouille, a former top 20 player on his way back after a significant slump which was partly a result of him suffering a bout of depression.