Cameron Norrie maintained his focus to beat British rival Jacob Fearnley in a French Open third-round match disrupted by loud fireworks outside Paris St-Germain’s stadium.
Norrie, 29, was replaced by 23-year-old Fearnley as the British number two earlier this year, but laid down his authority in a 6-3 7-6 (7-1) 6-2 win.
Bangs were heard throughout the majority of the match as PSG fans geared up for their football team’s Champions League final against Inter Milan in Munich.
“It was hard managing the fireworks next door – that was the toughest part for both of us,” said Norrie, who is ranked 81st in the world.
“I was putting my bag down and the umpire said, ‘There’s just a couple of fireworks. We’ll just play on’.
“I was thinking it was just going to be a few of in the warm-up, but it was at the most random times.”
Norrie – playing at his best level for a while after a couple of difficult seasons – used his experience to take control against his fellow Scot.
The former world number eight managed to subdue French Open debutant Fearnley, who described the noise as “brutal”.
On the distractions, 55th-ranked Fearnley added: “It’s far from ideal but that’s life. I understand PSG playing is probably a bit more important than this match.
“It’s definitely not a reason why I lost the match.”
Fearnley produced a double fault on match point as Norrie reached the last 16 of the clay-court Grand Slam for the first time.
The reward could be a meeting with former world number one Novak Djokovic, who plays later on Saturday.
After British number one Jack Draper outclassed Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca, there will be two British men in the French Open last 16 – for the first time since the Open era was introduced in 1968.
