Asked to assess Cameron Norrie’s chances against Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon, his vanquished quarter-final opponent, David Goffin, said simply: “You know the answer.”
The Belgian said Norrie would need to play the tennis of his life; likened Djokovic to an alien; and suggested, if the Serbian was sick, his British opponent might just find a way to sneak past — but only just.
It was hardly a glowing endorsement of the first British singles player to reach the semi-finals of his home Grand Slam since Andy Murray in 2016.
Not since Murray and Djokovic ended their Wimbledon runs the following year — with hip and elbow injuries respectively at the quarter-final stage — has the Serbian lost a match at SW19.
And assessing the task facing him later this week, the British No1 said: “It’s obviously one of the toughest in tennis. I’d say grass is his favourite surface and his record is unbelievable at Wimbledon. It will be tough.”
That Norrie has even made it this far is no small feat. Never before had he gone beyond the third round of a Grand Slam and, for much of his match against Goffin, he struggled to find his game. But through his own willpower, and the will of the crowd, he found a way past in five sets.
Assessing his own place in the last four, the 26-year-old said: “I’m going to have to improve a lot of things from today. I don’t think I’m going to have the chance to lose focus like I did today. I was a little bit fortunate.
“A couple of times I lost a little bit of focus and managed to get it back. With him [Djokovic], there is no room for that. I’m just looking forward to seeing the level he brings. It’s going to be a tricky one.”
Jannik Sinner highlighted the enormity of the challenge Norrie faces. For two sets, the Italian produced some of the best tennis of his career to leave Djokovic on the brink of a shock exit.
But from the moment a net cord went the way of the 20-time Grand Slam champion, it was like the flick of a switch, as Sinner scrambled for a game here and there for the remaining three sets. It was the seventh time Djokovic had come back from two sets down in his career to win.
For Norrie, the records were more nationalistic, the first British semi-finalist for six years at Wimbledon and joining the likes of Murray, Tim Henman and Virginia Wade in having made the last four.
Norrie said: “When I made the quarter-finals the other day, I was thinking about when I was a kid and watching guys on TV making the quarters and thinking, ‘wow, this looks so tough to do and there’s almost zero chance I’m going to do that’.
“But just to actually be doing it and experiencing it is very cool and pretty crazy. I have now gone one further in the semis, so I think I can take a lot of confidence from that.”
The Murray effect cannot be underestimated, not just in terms of blazing a trail as a British player but as a practice partner and cheerleader of the latest incumbent as British No1.
“Andy has been super-supportive to me and my team,” said Norrie. “I’m always practising with him and always reaching out to him for ideas. He’s so supportive with us. Even before the match today, he came over and he was in the gym and said ‘good luck’.
“So, he’s always following everything and all the results. It’s pretty cool. And he’s not a bad guy to ask about some tactics. I’m maybe going to reach out to him and see what he’s got.”
