You Cam not be serious…
CAMERON Norrie announced himself on the Davis Cup stage with a remarkable debut victory over world No 23 Roberto Bautista Agut to raise Great Britain’s hopes of a shock win against Spain.
The 22-year-old, ranked 114th in the world, came from two sets down to win 4-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2, securing the second rubber and tying the World Group first round tie at 1-1 after Liam Broady had been beaten 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 by world No 21 Albert Ramos-Vinolas.
After match point, Norrie seemed briefly overcome with emotion as he was hailed by the noisy travelling support who had roared on his remarkable recovery.
“In the fifth set I went to serve and there was an eruption of noise and I thought, ‘This is an incredible experience’,” he said. “I’m so happy – the best day of my tennis career, 100 per cent.”
British No2 Kyle Edmund was watching courtside and, provided his hip injury allows, could now be pressed into action tomorrow if the doubles team of Jamie Murray and Dom Inglot can edge out Feliciano Lopez and Pablo Carreno and nudge Britain in front in the only rubber to be contested today.
Watching from further afar as he continues to recover from his own hip injury, Andy Murray tried to put Norrie’s victory into context. “That’s one of the most amazing wins/ results/upsets I have seen in a long time on a tennis court,” he tweeted. “Well done to Cam Norrie and all the team. Broady was excellent too.” Murray’s superlatives are not given lightly. Norrie became a full-time professional only in May and this was his first match on red clay. Moreover, he had never played more than three sets before, and looked set only to contest that many at the Club de Tenis Puente Romano in Marbella when Bautista Agut raced to a two-set lead. “I was nervous and had a streak in the second set where I couldn’t get a serve, but I pulled it together,” Norrie said. “I noticed he was struggling a little bit in the fourth set. “I backed myself physically and mentally against the guy and I’m just chuffed to get through it.” Team captain Leon Smith said. “I’m almost lost for words. Cam fully deserves every bit of praise he gets.”