Norrie has no answer to ‘perfect’ Nishikori

GIVEN Cameron Norrie’s capacity for a wondrous debut, it was tempting to think more was to come when he took a 4-2 lead against Kei Nishikori in his first match on Centre Court. In February 2018 on his Davis Cup debut, Norrie stunned world No 23 Roberto Bautista Agut to win from two sets down having turned professional only eight months previously. In Wimbledon’s grand arena, where Norrie had been given a morning tour to familiarise himself, a mood of anticipation gathered as Britain’s No 2 edged ahead of the No 8 seed from Japan. But Nishikori was in one of those moods where he strikes the ball with porcelain precision and the home hope did not last for long. Nishikori broke back immediately and won 16 of the next 20 games to seal a 6-4, 6-4, 6-0 victory. It was not that Norrie faltered greatly, more that Nishikori was close to his best. He called his play in the final set ‘perfect’. ‘I have never had someone return my serve like that,’ said Norrie (right). ‘He put a lot of pressure on me in that respect. I could have hit my spots a little better, but he played great. A very clean match.’ There was a lengthy third-set delay when a spectator needed medical treatment after passing out in the heat, but Norrie denied it accelerated his exit. ‘The same thing happened in Eastbourne and I had to stop against Kyle Edmund for 45 minutes. After that, I kind of completely lost my concentration there. So today when that happened I wanted to stay focused, and I did. But Kei just came out firing and broke me the next game.’ Nishikori has made at least the quarter-finals of his last four Grand Slams and will face American Steve Johnson, who beat 25th seed Alex de Minaur. ‘I’m very happy to win straight sets,’ he said. ‘My elbow was hurting after the French Open. I had good preparation last week. I was very confident.’