In the first Grand Slam quarter-final of Cameron Norrie’s burgeoning career, he had every reason to feel exasperated with how things seemed to be going. Faced with the opportunity of a lifetime, his nerves were evident early on for all to see. He kept dropping the ball short. His forehand missed too many errors. Throughout, David Goffen, his far more experienced opponent, picked him apart.
But even as this most important match slipped out of his control and out of his grasp, Norrie held his own as always. He remained calm as the games fell from him, frantically searching for a solution to his problems. After successful points, he held his chest high and his fist clenched, offering himself constant encouragement.
Norrie fought hard to the last point, as he always does, and was rewarded for his endurance with the biggest win of his life. After trailing two sets to one on Court No. 1, he recovered to beat his Belgian opponent 3-6, 7-5, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 to reach the first semi-final in Grand Slam tournament in his career, at Wimbledon.
Now the fourth Briton to reach the ATP top 10, Norrie continues to be noted as one of the best players from these shores. He is the fourth Briton in the Open era to reach the semi-finals at Wimbledon after Andy Murray, Tim Henman and Roger Taylor.
As he reflected on his accomplishments on the court after his win, Norrie was on the verge of tears. “I think just winning a game like this, I’m in shock. I don’t know what to say now,” he said.
“I have memories of all the hard work and all the sacrifices I had to make and it definitely paid off – and it feels pretty good.”
David Goffen led two sets to one but saw his semi-final hopes ended in the fifth set. Photo: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian
Despite being unseeded, Goffen’s ranking of No. 58 belies his status as a former top-10 player whose rankings have fallen due to injury. At first he was outstanding. He built a wonderful career, compensating for his slight frame with his quick feet and magic in his hands. Few players in the world can consistently meet the ball early and change directions from either wing with such impeccable timing. He pulled Norrie from side to side, firing winners down the line on both wings as he took a 6-4, 4-3 lead.
Norrie’s tenacity eventually led to a break in the second set as he regained the break and then took the set with a supreme comeback at 6-5. But Goffen quickly regained control of the baseline and cruised through the third set.
Nori, however, continued to work. After he managed to hold for 4-3 in the fourth set, he began to engage with the raucous crowd, conducting the crowd as he brought the spectators to their feet.
The wall of noise from Court No. 1 took its toll on Goffen in the ensuing long game as he meekly slotted a forehand to give up the break. Shortly after, Nori served for the set.
The crowd roared as the fifth set began and they stuck with Norrie as he saved a break point in the opening game and then held each serve preciously to 5-5.
Cameron Norrie hits David Goffen’s serve. Photo: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian
In that crucial moment, Norrie made his stand, locking down his game, chasing every last ball and refusing to concede. Under the weight of the moment, the crowd and especially Nori’s relentless intensity, Goffen finally broke and made the decisive breakthrough with a series of errors. Without hesitation, Nori served up the win.
“From the beginning I wasn’t going my way and I wasn’t feeling good and I wasn’t feeling the ball,” Norrie said. “It was all David’s credit.
“He was moving me around, playing really well, and I couldn’t find my game. I managed to stay as patient as possible. It was all adrenaline. I used my legs at the end and tried to get the ball into the court.”
As the crowd of 10,000 watched Norrie’s achievement, with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in attendance, chants of his family echoed around the stadium. “Honestly, speechless. I can’t even talk,” he said. “I’m so lucky to have made it with such a great team, such great family and friends.”
From the start of the tournament, after seventh seed Hubert Hurkacz’s defeat left Norrie as the top-ranked player in his section from the second round onwards, it was a significant opportunity.
Nori handles every moment extremely well and against a player with more talent at his fingertips he demonstrates all the qualities that have propelled him to the top.
“He was such a great fighter,” Goffen said afterward. “That’s why he’s in the top 10. He fights so hard. He is very consistent. He is very tough and never gives up. That was the case today.”
Eighteen months ago, when Norrie was ranked 74th and appeared to be in the midst of a successful but unimpressive career, even those who appreciated his abilities did not expect him to be a top 10 seed, confidently navigating his way to the final rounds of Wimbledon.
But there it is. After arriving here, desperate to get past the third round of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time, he unlocked a lot more.
Norrie will now face one of the sport’s biggest challenges, six-time champion and top seed Novak Djokovic, in the Wimbledon final. As always, he will keep his cool, fight for every point and then see where he ends up.
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