Heartbreak for Britain's Cameron Norrie as he loses Wimbledon semi-final to Djokovic

8 July 2022, 18:17 | Updated: 8 July 2022, 18:35

Cameron Norrie (left) was beaten by Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon semi-final
Cameron Norrie (left) was beaten by Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon semi-final. Picture: Getty

By Daisy Stephens

Britain's Cameron Norrie has been beaten by Novak Djokovic in Friday's Wimbledon semi-final.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Norrie won the first set in the men's semi-final against the defending champion.

But the Serb ended up beating him 2-6 6-3 6-2 6-4, and will now face Nick Kyrgios in Sunday's final.

Read more: Rafael Nadal 'very sad' as he withdraws from Wimbledon due to injury

Read more: Cameron Norrie makes Wimbledon history as he storms through to semi-finals

Cameron Norrie gave Centre Court cause to dream before his brilliant Wimbledon run came to an end.

The British number one, who had never previously been past the third round of a grand slam, had taken full advantage of a favourable draw to become just the fourth home player in the Open era to make the last four in the men's singles here.

Norrie got off to a good start but was left disappointed
Norrie got off to a good start but was left disappointed. Picture: Getty

But trying to beat Djokovic, who has not lost a match at Wimbledon since 2017, was a completely different challenge and, although Norrie made a superb start, the top seed hit back emphatically to win.

In extending his run of successive grass-court victories to 27, six-time Wimbledon champion Djokovic becomes the first man to reach 32 grand slam finals, while he has only lost one of his last 19 slam semi-finals.

Norrie will undoubtedly be disappointed that he could not make a first slam final but the ninth seed has shown that he fully belongs with the world's best and that he can have more chances in the future.

Djokovic will face Kyrgios in Sunday's final
Djokovic will face Kyrgios in Sunday's final. Picture: Getty

Djokovic has won at least one grand slam title - and more often than not two or three - each year since 2010 barring 2017, when he was dogged by elbow problems.

He arrived at Wimbledon, though, knowing this was likely to be his final chance of the season after his deportation from Australia and quarter-final loss at the French Open, and with a Covid-19 vaccination certificate still a requirement of entry into the United States.

This was therefore a huge match despite all the Serbian's experience, and it was certainly he who seemed the more nervous in the early stages.

A huge roar erupted when Norrie, who had taken just three games in their only previous meeting last year, won the first point against serve, and the British number one greeted his opening break with a leaping pump of the fist.

It was comically premature but also entirely understandable on the biggest day in the 26-year-old's career.

The pair faced one another in the semi-final on Friday
The pair faced one another in the semi-final on Friday. Picture: Getty

Djokovic did not react in anything like the same way when he immediately retrieved the break but the top seed was unable to settle, his normally watertight groundstrokes flying long or into the net.

Norrie has been unflappable throughout this run, embracing his suddenly elevated profile rather than feeling cowed by home pressure, and he was certainly rising to the occasion on the biggest stage of all.

He made sure he took advantage of Djokovic's nerves, using his unusually flat double-handed backhand to rush his opponent while landing several blows with his heavy forehand.

The crowd were in disbelief as Norrie won five games in a row to clinch the opening set but the early signs in the second were that Djokovic had steadied.

Read more: Rishi launches Tory leadership bid with swipe at Boris and pledge to rebuild economy

Read more: Sir Mark Rowley appointed new Met Police Commissioner

The pressure was growing as Norrie saved break points in the fourth and sixth games and a volley missed from right on top of the net at 3-4 was the momentary lapse that Djokovic needed to seize the initiative.

Unlike Jannik Sinner, who led Djokovic by two sets to love in the quarter-final, Norrie does not possess a big weapon and, with the defending champion now purring from the baseline, it was difficult for the British number one to find a chink of light.

He was being pushed well behind the baseline and the sort of errors he simply could not afford to make were creeping in.

Another break of serve to start the fourth set put Djokovic a step closer and, although Norrie fought manfully to stay in touch, earning huge applause when he saved four break points in the fifth game, the Serbian's serve kept him out of reach.

After a final unreturnable serve on match point, Djokovic turned towards a section of spectators who had been calling out and let fly with a verbal volley, earning a chorus of boos, before celebrating reaching an eighth Wimbledon final.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

First photos of Gavin and Stacey Christmas Special as James Corden and Ruth Jones mark triumphant finale

First photos of Gavin and Stacey Christmas Special as James Corden and Ruth Jones mark show's triumphant finale

King Charles performs a Hongi, a traditional Maori greeting, with Mere Takoko

King Charles shares traditional Maori nose rub greeting with activist as he launches environmental charity

Putin issued a chilling threat to the West as he confirmed Russia launched a ballistic missile against Ukraine

Putin issues chilling warning to UK and US as he confirms Russia hit Ukraine with new 'experimental' ballistic missile

Telegraph writer Allison Pearson.

Police drop investigation into journalist Allison Pearson over tweet - as review to be launched over handling of case

Exclusive
Angela Rayner has paid tribute to John Prescott

Angela Rayner says John Prescott 'used to call her after PMQs to remind her to stay true to who she is'

Four men have been arrested accused of attempting to rob a mobile phone store

Undercover police arrest four men after EE shop raided by masked gang

Matt Gaetz withdraws as Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general amid sexual misconduct allegations

Matt Gaetz withdraws as Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general amid sexual misconduct allegations

Donald Trump Watches SpaceX Launch Its Sixth Test Flight Of Starship Spacecraft

Elon Musk pledges to fire civil servants who work from home

Seven-month-old baby mauled to death by family dog after leaning on animal while crawling, inquest hears

Seven-month-old baby mauled to death by family dog sustained 'catastrophic' injuries after leaning on pet, inquest hears

Starmer has backed the International Criminal Court over its arrest warrant for Netanyahu

Starmer backs International Criminal Court after it issues arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu

Five men charged over smuggling of migrants from UK to France in lorries

Five men charged over smuggling of migrants from UK to France in lorries following dawn raids

Rhiannon Skye Whyte was stabbed to death in Walsall

South Sudanese teen accused of murdering asylum seeker hotel worker with screwdriver 'refuses to appear in court'

Will Guyatt questions who is responsible for the safety of children online

Are Zuckerberg and Musk responsible for looking after my kids online?

Simone White has died following a poisoning with alcoholic drinks at a bar in Loas

British lawyer, 28, dies following suspected mass methanol poisoning at bar in Laos

Russia has claimed that Britain is directly involved in the war in Ukraine

Britain now 'directly involved in war in Ukraine', Russian ambassador to UK says

Finlay MacDonald is accused of trying to murder his wife Rowena

Jealous husband 'murdered brother-in-law and tried to kill wife' after finding text saying she planned to leave him