Yes we Cam! Britain's number one Cameron Norrie faces Belgian David Goffin

Cameron Norrie is going head to head with Belgian David Goffin at Wimbledon today as he looks to cement a semi-final spot at a Grand Slam for the first time. 

The 26-year-old, who is Britain’s last remaining hope in the singles, asked the crowd to get behind him today – and they are not failing to deliver. 

Supporting the highest ranked British singles player courtside is his glamorous girlfriend Louise Jacobi, a textile designer from New York and a graduate of the prestigious Central St Martins art school, as well as his mother, Helen.  

*Goffin 3-2 Norrie*. 

Norrie enjoyed the biggest win of his career on Sunday when he beat American Tommy Paul in straight sets to the delight of the crowd and became the first British man to reach the quarter finals since Sir Andy Murray in 2017.

Born to British parents in Johannesburg, the World Number 12 first started playing tennis aged four with a cut-down squash racket on an ‘imaginary court’ next to his home.

Norrie made his debut for Britain’s Davis Cup team the next year and in January 2019 he reached his first ATP final.

His opponent Goffin, 31, is a fluent stylist who was in the top ten five years ago but has slipped to number 58.

He has played the longest match of the tournament in the last round, taking four hours and 36 minutes. 

Many British fans might best remember him as the man who, at his peak, was beaten by Andy Murray in the match which clinched the 2015 Davis Cup final for Great Britain. 

Cameron Norrie’s secret weapon: How British No.1, who gave up hedonistic life after a moped crash, is ‘calmed’ by his VERY glamorous textiles designer girlfriend (as his parents praise her ‘positive impact’)

By Jessica Green for MailOnline

Cameron Norrie’s girlfriend is a glamorous textiles designer who has worked for Calvin Klein before joining New York-based Please Don’t Touch as a textiles consultant.

Louise Jacobi has been by Johannesburg-born Norrie’s side for at least two years, and has been described as a ‘calm, positive impact’ by his British parents.

Norrie, 26, gave up his partying, hedonistic lifestyle to be more professional after suffering injuries in a moped crash around six years ago, reported The Times. 

While the couple reportedly kept their relationship private initially, they have since gone public on Instagram.

The lithe 20-something now regularly shares pictures on her social media platform with the tennis ace, posting snaps from their romantic getaways – which have included New Zealand, Monaco and Italy. 

She is a graduate of the prestigious Central St Martins in London, making it possible the couple met in the capital.

Ms Jacobi was in the stands in October last year when Norrie became the first Brit to win the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California.

The couple, who shared a kiss on court, had plenty to celebrate: as well as his new ranking and historic tournament win, Norrie took home an £880,000 cash prize.

It is not known how the couple met but they appear on each other’s Instagram accounts as far back as 2019.

According to the Please Don’t Touch website, Ms Jacobi is its founder and creative director.

She ‘oversees the entire creative process and strategy’ including sourcing, development and sale of ‘luxury products for interior design brands and fashion houses’.

His family say Ms Jacobi, who has been by side throughout the championships, has also had a positive impact on him. 

She admitted she was so new to tennis when she met Norrie that she barely knew the rules. His parents have warmed to the New Yorker and joined them in his player’s box.

His mother said: ‘She has a calm about her. I think she’s been good for him and they are able to talk about other things away from the court. Cameron is a bright boy and you have got to have other interests in life otherwise you would go mad.’

However, Norrie recently told The Times that there is sometimes tension in his Putney household, because he and Louise disagree over cooking. 

‘We get into arguments when we cook,’ Norrie said. ‘Because Louise always wants to follow recipes to the letter while I prefer to wing it and experiment a bit.’

While the 26-year-old British hopeful looked relaxed as he cycled to the All England Club for practice yesterday, he admitted on Sunday: ‘It’s always going to be a lot of pressure and a lot of people watching what’s going on. 

‘There are a lot of emotions right now, but the tournament’s still going on. So, not satisfied yet and want to keep pushing for more.’

He enjoyed the biggest win of his career on Sunday when he beat American Tommy Paul in straight sets to the delight of the crowd and became the first British man to reach the quarter finals since Sir Andy Murray in 2017. 

Born to British parents in Johannesburg, he first started playing tennis aged four with a cut-down squash racket on an ‘imaginary court’ next to his home. 

His mother Helen, 59, a biochemist from Cardiff, said: ‘He wanted to play all the time.’ When he was still a child, the family left South Africa and moved to Auckland, where his mother and Glasgow-born father David – also a biochemist – still live.

They noticed their left-handed son had talent and he went into a coaching programme, reaching the top 10 junior ranking worldwide.

He eventually switched allegiance to his parents’ homeland and when he was 16 he came alone to the LTA’s national training centre in Roehampton, London.

After three years, he won a scholarship to go to Texas Christian College in Fort Worth, Texas, studying sociology alongside his tennis.

But in 2016, a night out at a bar ended with six stitches in his chin after he crashed a moped.

He was axed from the team to play in a second-tier ATP Challenger tournament and was also threatened with expulsion. 

This week he described the moment as a ‘turning point’, saying: ‘The coaches kicked me into gear and I was more professional after that. I grew up a lot.’

He went on to become the No 1 ranked US college player before turning professional in 2017.

He made his debut for Britain’s Davis Cup team the next year and in January 2019 he reached his first ATP final. Despite being established in the top 100 singles ranking, however, Norrie was still flying below the radar.

But the suspension of international tours during the pandemic offered him a unique opportunity to put in plenty of hard work.

During three months of seclusion, the rising star returned to the game with a new sense of purpose.

While he became the face of British tennis overnight, the new No1, who has been described as ‘a great example’ by his role model and former British No. 1 Sir Andy Murray, has had a decidedly international upbringing, spending time in South Africa, New Zealand and the US. 

In spite of his transcontinental accent, which Norrie himself admits can be difficult to place, the player insists he feels British through and through.

‘I consider myself British,’ he previously said. ‘Both my parents are British. My mum is Welsh and my dad is Scottish, with a filthy Scottish accent.’

On the tennis circuit he has become friendly with fellow British tennis poster boy Sir Andy, who made time to train with Norrie when he made his senior debut at Wimbledon in 2017.

‘He’s such a great role model and at such a high level that it kind of rubs off on you,’ Norrie said at the time.

When Norrie became Britain’s No.1 last year, Sir Andy was the one doing the praising, saying after his win: ‘I’d be lying if I said that I called that to be honest. 

‘However, I have spent a decent amount of time around him and practised with him quite a lot and he works extremely hard.

‘I think he’s a great example for not just British players but all tennis players to look at and go, if you put the effort in day in, day out and properly dedicate yourself to the sport, have an attitude like he does, it can take you a long, long way.’