Keep Cam and carry on! Norrie is only Brit left
Nerveless Norrie keeps Brit hopes alive as Heather wilts on big day
CAMERON Norrie emerged as Britain’s last Wimbledon singles hope after he progressed to the quarter-finals yesterday – while Heather Watson crashed out.
Norrie beat Tommy Paul of the United States in straight sets on Court One to become the first British man since Sir Andy Murray in 2017 to reach the last eight of the competition.
South Africa-born Norrie insisted he is British despite being brought up in New Zealand between the ages of three and 16.
The 26-year-old did not look fazed yesterday despite the weight of expectation. He won the match 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 on Middle Sunday – the first time there has been scheduled play on what was previously a rest day.
The nation’s hopes now rest on his shoulders after the exits of the other 16 Britons at SW19.
The British No 1 will play the unseeded Belgian David Goffin next. A potential semi-final clash with Novak Djokovic could be on the cards if he wins.
After his victory yesterday, Norrie said on court: ‘To make the quarters for the first time, in front of my family and friends here from college, is so special. I’m the last one left so why not get behind me even more!’
On his upbringing, he told a press conference: ‘I’m living here, based here. I feel good coming back here, practising with the younger Brits.
‘I love rugby, the cricket. I’m feeling pretty at home. It’s been great to follow all the sports here. It’s been good.’
He was cheered on by his Glasgow-born father, David. Mr Norrie, a microbiologist and graduate of Strathclyde University, admitted watching his son was nerve-wracking. He said: ‘I enjoy it, but through gritted teeth.’
Earlier yesterday, Miss Watson lost to Germany’s Jule Niemeier.
The 30-year-old Briton, who was in the last 16 of a Grand Slam for the first time, called on the nation to get behind Norrie, saying: ‘I think he deserves more attention because he’s such a great example.
‘He is everything that your coaches and your parents ask of you. His work ethic, his focus, his dedication, how he invests in himself. And he’s a great person as well, so I really hope he can go far. It would be great to see him do well.’
CAMERON NORRIE has urged the nation to get behind him after emerging as the last Brit standing in the singles at Wimbledon.
Norrie cruised into his first Slam quarterfinal with a clinical 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 victory over American Tommy Paul on Court 1. Norrie’s win came after Heather Watson lost her fourthround match to German Jule Niemeier. ‘i’m the last one standing, it’s even more reason for everyone to get behind me,’ said British No1 Norrie, who will meet unseeded Belgian David Goffin for a place in the semi-finals tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic sealed a 6-2, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 win over Tim van Rijthoven to narrowly avoid the 11pm curfew last night.
Abully with an evil side, a tortured and underachieving genius, someone grievously misunderstood, or a mix of all three.
The debate was raging around the All England Club in the wake of Saturday evening’s pulsating third-round clash, with both Nick Kyrgios and Stefanos Tsitsipas lucky to still be on court by the end of it.
One aspect is beyond argument: this was among the best first-week matches ever seen at Wimbledon. Not just for the controversy and drama but the astounding level of play at times.
What an uplift for the tournament, in a year of no Russians and no ranking points, that the utterly compelling Kyrgios is around for the second week.
Those of a sensitive disposition might disagree, but nobody can afford to take their eyes off the 27-year-old Australian. That will be the case again today when he takes on world No 56, brandon Nakashima from California first up on Centre Court.
Everyone in tennis has their varied experience of Kyrgios. One of my most intriguing came five years ago when I was invited to his rented house by Wimbledon Common for an interview.
Him being unexpectedly delayed, I sat with his mother Nill, who was charming, and discussed over a cup of tea how her son had unexpectedly transformed from a chubby young boy into a pro athlete with natural gifts.
Eventually the front door swung open with a cheery, ‘Hello Mum’. It was more like a wholesome scene from Neighbours than the arrival of the Prince of Darkness.
Nill is back in Australia, although his father Giorgos is in town and also his sister Halimah, a singer and actress who has featured in the Australian version of The Voice.
His older brother Christos became a father last week, and maybe this is the tournament when new uncle Nick finally fulfils his potential.
So far he has fallen way short of that, and it is probably the fear of not translating his ability into trophies which, partially, explains some of his outbursts. He has spoken of mental health issues which extended to self-harming during a bleak period in 2019.
Kyrgios has a very likeable side — Andy Murray is a friend and the Scot’s antennae for people is pretty good — but there is no excusing the Australian’s excesses, such as his foul language on court and rudeness to officials.
There is also a resort to victimhood which can be unappealing, although this is one of the many contradictions in his character and career.
For one of its facets on court is that he does not yield to the top players in the way that many of his peers do. Too often against the big Three of Nadal, Federer and Djokovic opponents have accepted their fate, and later spoken of the honour to have shared the court with them.
Kyrgios prefers to get in their grill, and in his current determined frame of mind there was no way he was going to let world No 5 Tsitsipas settle.
The Greek, like the great trio, prefers to play a match on orderly terms, rather than have any distractions at the other end. Few enjoy the deliberately high tempo which sees Kyrgios launch his thunderbolt serves in quick succession.
His refusal to defer partly explains why he owns a 2-0 record over Djokovic and has beaten Nadal three times in nine meetings. little else in his career
suggests he should get that close to them. Sometimes overlooked is the fact that he beat the Spaniard at Wimbledon aged just 19. That should have been a signpost to future great deeds but has not proved to be the case.
The most delicious prospect of this whole coming week is that he makes Friday’s scheduled semi-final against Nadal, with the second seed unbeaten at the Grand Slams this season.
The French Open champion will probably be hoping that Kyrgios implodes by then, and it may well happen. More prosaically, he may not be fit enough to last two weeks.
He is already carrying the heaviest fine of Wimbledon so far — for spitting towards a spectator after an unnecessary squabble — and there will be another on the way once the events of Saturday night are examined.
yet if he holds it together, then everyone will be treated to the sight of more electric shotmaking, delivered by that loose arm that can impart extraordinary power with the briefest swish.
Nakashima is a solid allrounder who has, in fact, beaten another flashy opponent already this fortnight in Denis Shapovalov, but he does not have the same weapons. The most boring thing about Kyrgios has been the repeat narrative of him creating drama without having the results to authenticate his talent.
Change that, and he will escape the label of being a circus act.