In a three-hour match unfold over nearly six hours due to two rain delays, British primary Norrie additionally required therapy on his proper knee, which he described as a “precautionary” measure.
In the meantime, Ruud prevailed in a deciding tie-break towards Australia’s Max Purcell to wrap up a 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 3-6 7-6 (10-7) victory in three hours and 50 minutes.
“He is overwhelmed me a couple of instances in some actually huge matches,” Norrie, 28, mentioned of Ruud.
“I believe lots of the time was right down to execution and him staying a bit calmer than me within the greater moments.”
A 3-time Grand Slam finalist, Ruud has solely dropped one set in three victories over Norrie – on the ATP Finals in 2021 – and believes the South African-born Briton can be out for “revenge”.
“He is an ideal participant. I should be on prime of my sport if I need to hold in there with him,” the 25-year-old mentioned.
“I do know what has given me the win. He’ll attempt to search revenge and discover a solution to beat me.”
Two-time runner-up Daniil Medvedev will hope he has recovered sufficiently for his third-round assembly with Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime. The Russian third seed survived a 4 hour and 23 minute five-setter towards Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori that completed at 03:40 native time on Friday.
German sixth seed Alexander Zverev, additionally pushed to 5 units within the final spherical, takes on American Alex Michelsen, whereas ninth seed Hubert Hurkacz of Poland performs Frenchman Ugo Humbert.
Within the ladies’s draw, Belarus’ Victoria Azarenka, a champion at Melbourne Park in 2012 and 2013, faces former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko.