Cameron Norrie walks his personal path at Wimbledon forward of Novak Djokovic semifinal showdown

With Cameron Norrie, what you see is what you get.

Simply the fourth British man to make the semifinals at Wimbledon within the Open period, Norrie has cycled to the All England Membership every day, racket bag on his again, simply going about his enterprise in the best way he has all the time performed. No nonsense.

It is a routine that has served him effectively all through his profession, from his start in South Africa to a Scottish father and Welsh mom, to his childhood rising up in New Zealand, to his time at Texas Christian College, to his path into the world’s high 10 and now, to inside one match of a Wimbledon closing.

Pat Money, the 1987 Wimbledon champion and now a commentator for the BBC throughout the Championships, mentioned the left-handed Norrie had improved massively previously couple of years. Money coached Brandon Nakashima to victory over the Briton in early 2020. “We labored him out tactically, fairly simply,” Money mentioned. “However he is improved every thing. He is very spectacular now.”

Famend as one of many hardest staff on the ATP Tour, Norrie took his time to hit his present rating of No. 12. He broke into the highest 100 in Might 2018 and has moved by means of the degrees steadily, to the purpose that now he’s on the verge of the highest 10 once more. Unflappable on courtroom, he has performed issues his method.

“The primary aim, for me, was to interrupt inside the highest 100, after which I did that. I believe as soon as I did that, then it was high 50, then I did that, I used to be high 10. Simply sort of ticking containers and slowly progressing. I believe it makes it increasingly plausible because it goes on,” he mentioned.

“I did not suppose, straight out of school, ‘Alright, I’ll be within the semifinals of a Grand Slam and setting loopy targets like that. I believe it is nice to try this, however I believe on the time it was fairly unrealistic. So I believe I’ve performed an excellent job of conserving expectations low after which fulfilling and maximizing the expertise that I’ve received. I believe I’ve nonetheless received loads of issues I can enhance on, which is thrilling.”

Having overwhelmed David Goffin in a nail-biting five-setter to achieve his first slam semifinal, Norrie now goes up in opposition to Novak Djokovic, the six-time champion on a floor on which he has dominated for a lot of the previous decade. Djokovic earned his 11th Wimbledon semifinal berth after rallying from a two-set deficit to defeat 10th-seeded Jannik Sinner on Tuesday.

“For positive. I believe it is clearly one of many hardest duties in tennis,” Norrie admitted. “I would say grass is his favourite floor and his report is unbelievable right here at Wimbledon. It will be powerful.”

Norrie mentioned there can be no room for him to lose focus, as he did on a few events in opposition to Goffin.

“Now wanting ahead to taking it to him and seeing the extent he brings,” he mentioned. “I did not actually watch an excessive amount of from him as we speak, however he is clearly feeling fairly good after getting back from two units to like. Yeah, it is going to be a difficult one.”

In opposition to Djokovic, Norrie might have all of the help he can get. Fortunately, assist might be available, with Norrie saying he plans to ask compatriot Andy Murray how greatest to tackle the six-time Wimbledon champion.

“Andy has been tremendous supportive to me and my workforce,” Norrie mentioned. “You already know, I am all the time practising with him and all the time reaching out to him for concepts. Not a foul man to ask about some ways. I’ll get pleasure from as we speak and possibly attain out to him and see what he is received.”