At the current 2025 ASB Classic in Auckland, Cameron Norrie had a controversial moment in the final seconds of his crushing first-round defeat. Frustrated, the Brit threw his racket into the crowd, hitting a fan in the process. Although Norrie received a warning from the chair umpire, some tennis fans subsequently believed that the former World No. 8 should be disqualified outright.
In the opening round of the 2025 ASB Classic, Norrie faced Facundo Diaz Acosta, who defeated him handily. The Brit tried a bold drop volley return near the end of his 2-6, 3-6 defeat, but it did not clear the net.
Then, in frustration, Norrie threw the racket toward the people seated in the stands directly behind him. After striking a fan, the racket dropped back onto the court. Soon after, chair umpire Greg Allensworth stepped in and warned Cameron Norrie for acting in an unsportsmanlike manner.
The contentious development quickly sparked reactions from tennis fans on X (formerly Twitter). The majority believed that Norrie ought to have defaulted; one even compared the situation to Novak Djokovic’s disqualification at the 2020 US Open after the Serb angrily but unintentionally struck a ball directly at a line judge’s throat.
One fan wrote: “Disqualifications and deportations are just reserved for Djokovic. It’s ok for the others.”
Another commented: “Norrie throwing his racquet around out of frustration should have been disqualified but was given a warning instead. He seems out of sorts the entire match. Acosta deserved to win.”
One fan wrote: “How is that not an auto DQ? He threw a racket and hit a fan lol that’s literally insane.”
Another weighed in: “Norrie throwing his racquet around out of frustration should have been disqualified but was given a warning instead. He seems out of sorts the entire match. Acosta deserved to win.”
Cam Norrie forced this spectator to take evasive action after throwing his racquet into the stands at the Auckland Open. 😳 pic.twitter.com/F0CRaY73T7
— Eurosport (@eurosport) January 7, 2025
Cameron Norrie in 2025
Ranked no.48, Norrie played his last match on the 7th of January when he was overcome by world no.78 Facundo Diaz Acosta 6-2 6-3 in the 1st round in Auckland (draw).
This year the Brit has an overall 2-2 match record.
