‘It was great experience’ says Scot Norrie after early exit
Faced with the choice of sitting in a lecture hall being tutored in the finer points of sociology or being the first Scot on court at Wimbledon, Cameron Norrie opted for the latter.
The 21-year-old student was well on his way to a straightsets defeat by Jo Wilfriedtsonga (6-3, 6-2, 6-2) before Andy Murray made his entrance but you’d have an impossible job persuading him that the experience was anything other than memorable.
“I was more excited rather than nervous and I just wanted to prove to him and to everyone else about my level,” said Norrie, whose level was as a wild-card entry, ranked No 236 in the world. “I wanted to just go out there and do my best and try my hardest. I’m proud of myself.”
Norrie has a Scottish father – with a “filthy” Scottish accent – and a Welsh mother. He was born in South Africa, raised in New Zealand and now lives in the USA where he’s taken time out from his degree to give tennis a go, having only turned pro last month.
He made a good start, holding his serve with a fine forehand down the line. “It was such a great experience playing someone like Tsonga,” Norrie added. “I was happy with the way I started but he served great throughout and didn’t really give me a chance. I wish I could have returned a little bit better but for sure it was a great experience.”
Twelfth seed Tsonga, the only player to take sets off Murray last year, had some sympathy for his opponent. “It was the first time for him in the first round and that was not easy for him,” the Frenchman said. “At the start he played pretty good but after that he had some difficulties.”
Norrie had limbered up for his SW19 debut with Murray, having been invited to train with the champ as the latter’s coach Ivan Lendl looked on. “He’s looking good,” he said of Murray. “He’s solid. Obviously he’s got an issue with his hip, but I think he can go all the way. He’s a fighter.”