Top-ranked British tennis player Cameron Norrie admitted he was in absolute shock and disbelief after winning a thriller to reach his maiden Grand Slam semifinal in front of his home fans at Wimbledon.Â
On Tuesday, Norrie staged a comeback to beat David Goffin 3-6 7-5 2-6 6-3 7-5 and set up a semifinal meeting against six-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic.Â
“Just winning a match like this, I’m in shock. I don’t know what to say now,” Norrie said after the win, per the ATP website. “But just straight flashbacks to all the hard work, all the preseasons and all the sacrifices I’ve had to make. So it definitely pays off and it feels pretty good.”
Norrie on facing Djokovic: It only gets tougherÂ
“It’s great to get this, but it only gets tougher. I’m going to come out, I’m going to enjoy that and take it to him,” Norrie said. “Hopefully you guys can get behind me again. I’m sure you will. Looking forward to it. Can’t enjoy it too much now, just [need to] get ready for Novak in a couple of days.”
After winning the first set, Goffin broke Norrie in the seventh game of the second set to open a 4-3 lead.Â
Down by a set and a break, Norrie responded as he broke Goffin in the eighth and 12th games to overturn the second set deficit and tie the match to one-set apiece.
Just when it seemed the momentum was on Norrie’s side, he suffered a mental collapse as Goffin broke the Briton three times in the third set to go up by two sets to one.Â
After easily losing the third set, Norrie bounced back in the fourth set as he broke Goffin in the eighth game and served out in the following game for a decider.Â
In the fifth set, Norrie claimed the first break in the 11th game to open a 6-5 lead, before serving out for the match in the following game.
Djokovic has a 1-0 head-to-head versus Norrie, having beaten the Briton at the ATP Finals last year.