Cameron Norrie has urged the British public to give him even more vocal support after becoming the last home player left in the Wimbledon draw. Norrie was backed by a rapturous crowd on Court One as he beat American Tommy Paul 6-4 7-5 6-4 to reach his first Grand Slam quarter-final. “Unfortunately I am the last one [Briton] standing,” said the 26-year-old, who plays David Goffin in the last eight. “But I think that’s all the more reason for everyone to get behind me.” British men’s number one Norrie produced another controlled and clinical display to win on his first appearance in a Grand Slam third round. In Tuesday’s last eight, Norrie will play unseeded Belgian Goffin, who beat 23rd-ranked Francis Tiafoe in a big five-setter on Sunday. The 26-year-old left-hander is Britain’s final singles representative after losing to Heather Watson. British number four Watson saw her hopes of also reaching a first Grand Slam quarter-final ended with a straight sets loss to unseeded German Jule Niemeier. But Norrie later won on Middle Sunday – the first time a game had been scheduled on the previous rest day – to ensure the home side had someone to cheer on as the singles tournaments continued into week two. The ninth seed is the first Briton to reach the singles quarter-finals since Andy Murray in 2017 and the first British player since Johanna Konta in 2019. Norrie then credited the home fans for helping him over the line against 30th-place finisher Paul. “I think from the first round everyone was behind me and supported me,” he said. “It showed in tough moments in the matches – especially the service for the match there. “There was a lot going on in my head, but I managed to stay calm and do it.”
Norrie is reaping maturity rewards
Not many would have predicted that Norrie would become Britain’s top hope on the men’s tour – and even fewer should have thought he would become one of the world’s top 10 players. Crucially, Norrie himself believed he could do it and was prepared to commit himself to achieving it. Now, after unlocking new achievements on the ATP Tour in terms of titles and rankings, the hard work put in over the past few years is paying off on the biggest stage of all. “It’s a shock to reach the quarter-finals for the first time,” he said. “To play a match like that, big for both of us, to play the way I did was really good. I really enjoyed it.” Norrie does not have the box office appeal of Murray, one of his recent predecessors as Britain’s number one. But his cool, composed demeanor is one of his greatest strengths, allowing him to fully focus on improving on the court. “I’ve improved a lot and matured on the pitch and continued to progress with my team,” he said afterwards. “I’ve definitely improved mentally over the years and I’m a lot more mature as a player and I think that shows.” Norrie (right) and Paul, who shared a warm handshake and hug at the net, are good friends off the court and were regular training partners at the All England Club last week A relentless engine is the basis of his success, supported by stability from the baseline and developing a vicious forehand that can dictate points. That forehand proved to be one of the keys for him in an exciting battle with Paul. The left-hander won his first point with a forehand down the line and went on to break in the first game, never trailing after that. The single break was enough to claim the opening set. He needed two in the second, failing to serve out at 5-4, but broke again to win 7-5 to put him one more set away from the last eight. After Norrie won another break for a 2-1 lead in the third set, he produced a string of controlled service games to reach his first Grand Slam quarterfinal at the 19th attempt. The home crowd on Court One erupted in celebration when Paul hit the return, with Norrie showing more emotion than usual as he leapt onto the grass and dunked twice in the air. “I was patient with myself and embraced the grass surface – it’s probably not my favorite surface but that gives me a lot of confidence,” Norrie added.
