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Wimbledon 2022: Cameron Norrie beats Tommy Paul to reach quarter-finals at All England Club

Wimbledon 2022: Cameron Norrie beats Tommy Paul to reach quarter-finals at All England Club
Venue: All England Club Dates: 27 June-10 July
Coverage: Live across BBC TV, radio and online with extensive coverage on BBC iPlayer, Red Button, Connected TVs and mobile app.

Cameron Norrie urged the British public to give him even more vocal support after he became the last home player left in the Wimbledon singles draw.

Norrie was backed by an enthusiastic 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’m the last [Briton] standing,” said the 26-year-old, who plays David Goffin in the last eight.

“But I think it’s even 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 the last eight on Tuesday, Norrie will play unseeded Belgian Goffin, who beat 23rd seed Frances Tiafoe in a long five-setter on Sunday.

The 26-year-old left-hander is Britain’s final representative in the singles after Heather Watson lost.

British number four Watson saw her hopes of also reaching a first Grand Slam quarter-final ended in a straight-set defeat by unseeded German Jule Niemeier.

But Norrie won later on Middle Sunday – the first time there had been scheduled play on what was previously a rest day – to ensure the home fans will have someone to cheer as the singles tournaments continue in the second week.

The ninth seed is the first British man to reach the singles quarter-finals since Andy Murray in 2017 and first British player since Johanna Konta in 2019.

Afterwards, Norrie credited the home fans for helping him over the line against 30th seed Paul.

“I think from the first round everyone has been behind me and supporting me,” he said.

“It’s showed in tough moments in the matches – especially serving for the match there.

“There were a lot of things going round my head but I managed to stay calm and do it.”

Norrie reaping rewards of maturity

Not many would have predicted Norrie would become the leading British hope on the men’s tour – and even fewer must 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 dedicate himself to achieving it.

Now, after unlocking new achievements on the ATP Tour in terms of titles and ranking, the hard work put in over the past few years is bringing its reward on the biggest stage of all.

“It is a shock to reach the quarter-finals for the first time,” he said.

“To play a match like that, a big one for both of us, to play the way I did was really good. I really enjoyed it.”

Norrie does not have the box-office attraction of Murray, one of his recent predecessors as Britain’s number one.

But his cool, understated demeanour is one of his biggest strengths, allowing him to focus completely on improving on the court.

“I’ve improved a lot and matured on the court and kept progressing with my team,” he said afterwards.

“I’ve definitely improved mentally over the years and I’m way more mature as a player, and I think it shows.”

Cameron Norrie and Tommy Paul shake hands after their Wimbledon fourth-round match
Norrie (right) and Paul, who shared a warm handshake and hug at the net, are good friends off the court and have been regular practice partners at the All England Club over the past week

A relentless engine is the basis of his success, backed up by solidity from the baseline and developing a vicious forehand which can dictate points.

That forehand proved to be one of the keys for him in an engaging battle with Paul.

The left-hander claimed his first point with a forehand winner down the line and went on to break in the opening game, never trailing after that.

The single break was enough to claim the opening set. In the second he needed two, failing to serve out at 5-4 but breaking again to win 7-5, to put him one more set away from the last eight.

After Norrie earned another break for a 2-1 lead in the third set, he produced a succession of controlled service games to reach his first Grand Slam quarter-final at the 19th attempt.

The home crowd on Court One erupted in celebration when Paul hit a return wide, with Norrie showing more emotion than usual as he skipped across the grass and twice punched the air.

“I’ve stayed patient with myself and embraced the grass surface – it’s probably not my favourite surface but this gives me a lot of confidence,” Norrie added.

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