British number two Cameron Norrie accidentally hit a spectator with his racket during his defeat in the opening round of the ASB Classic in Auckland.
Norrie was knocked out in straight sets by Argentina’s Facundo Diaz Acosta, losing 6-2 6-3.
As the match slipped out of his grasp, the world number 48 could be seen letting his frustration get to him.
Always a pleasure having @cam_norrie back home ???#ASBClassic25 pic.twitter.com/qmyaclbfBI
— ASB Classic (@ASB_Classic) January 7, 2025
Footage from the match showed the 29-year-old throw his racket in anger and accidentally hit a spectator in the front row of the centre court.
Norrie said in a post-match interview with Radio New Zealand (RNZ): “I apologised to the woman, and she was OK… it barely touched her and she was laughing.
“But I didn’t mean to do that, and it was definitely a wake-up call.”
Norrie, who grew up in Auckland, said his own match had been a “shocker”.
“I wanted to come here and play well, and it ended up being the complete opposite.”
Acosta will face compatriot Sebastian Baez in the second round.
