BRIT star Cameron Norrie has BEATEN David Goffin to set up a sensational Novak Djokovic semi-final at Wimbledon.
The quarter-final went to a fifth set on No 1 Court after Norrie fought back against the Belgian ace.
Earlier on, men's champ Djokovic recovered after losing the first two sets to BEAT Jannik Sinner in five sets.
Ons Jabeur is also on course to secure her first Grand Slam after beating Marie Bouzkova.
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- Joshua Jones
Norrie on the brink of tears
He is trying to do an on-court interview.
But Norrie really is lost for words.
He can barely get his words out and takes a breath to regather his composure.
As an aside, I'm no lip-reading expert but I'm pretty sure the future King of England may well have dropped a cheeky f-bomb after Norrie lost his first match point!
Who can blame him?!
- Joshua Jones
Norrie 3-6 7-5 2-6 6-3 7-5 Goffin
GAME, SET AND MATCH, CAMERON NORRIE!
The Brit has done it.
He is through to the semi-finals of Wimbledon where he will face Novak Djokovic.
Norrie held his nerve in a nervey game, losing his first match point.
But it was all over on the second match point when Goffin netted.
His parents and the crowd roar his name. Wow.
- Joshua Jones
Norrie* 3-6 7-5 2-6 6-3 6-5 Goffin
NORRIE BREAKS AND WILL SERVE FOR THE MATCH!
A long, bruising rally to start off the game – and it goes Cam's way as Goffin pushes wide.
Oh, brilliant! Goffin brings Norrie in, he drop shots him back then shows sensational reactions at the net to ping a volley back towards his opponent who cannot produce the same.
Goffin backhand long…
0-40.
Three. Break. Points…
Goffin forehand long!
Norrie is a game away!
- Joshua Jones
Norrie 3-6 7-5 2-6 6-3 5-5 Goffin*
Norrie forces Goffin into a couple of errors.
The Brit then pings down an ace down the T – Goffin challenges but the ball just caught a very slither of the line.
Goffin goes long and Norrie holds.
- Joshua Jones
Norrie* 3-6 7-5 2-6 6-3 4-5 Goffin
A bit of an anticlimactic game, that one.
A noticeably-flat atmosphere as Goffin races through it to love.
Norrie will serve to stay in Wimbledon 2022…
- Joshua Jones
Norrie 3-6 7-5 2-6 6-3 4-4 Goffin*
A simple smash put away sets Norrie on his way.
A return wide makes it 40-0 before Norrie puts a backhand long.
He does exactly the same, pushing that backhand beyond the baseline, again but does really well with a few overheads and a simple volley to hold.
A crunch hold.
Now, how are the nerves, David?
- Joshua Jones
Norrie* 3-6 7-5 2-6 6-3 3-4 Goffin
Wide from Goffin.
Wide from Norrie.
The tension is building with every point.
Goffin pings a backhand up the line and goes for broke… it looks tight as Norrie chases across but cannot make it.
It is called out, Goffin challenges… it was in! 30-15..
Ace. 40-15.
What a point – a bit of everything, attacking and defending from both players before eventually Norrie's stretched volley exposes himself and Goffin punishes.
- Joshua Jones
Norrie 3-6 7-5 2-6 6-3 3-3 Goffin*
Perfect ace down the middle.
Goffin goes wide.
Goffin has one called wide – but there is an immediate correction that it was good… replay the point… this backhand is definitely wide from Goffin.
Wide serve but the return is out.
Love hold.
Brilliant from Cameron Norrie.
Credit: Richard Pelham / The Sun - Joshua Jones
Norrie* 3-6 7-5 2-6 6-3 2-3 Goffin
This crowd is getting into this more and more – I think there was even a shout of "out" mid-rally at 15-15…
Both men carried on, though, until Goffin clipped one off the top of the net and wide.
Two returns miss in a row.
Then a smash is put away emphatically – a big "come on" from Goffin.
He needs to keep himself pumped…
- Joshua Jones
Norrie 3-6 7-5 2-6 6-3 2-2 Goffin*
Anything you can do…
Norrie holds with ease.
On we go…
- Joshua Jones
Norrie* 3-6 7-5 2-6 6-3 1-2 Goffin
15-0.
30-0.
40-0.
Game.
Solid stuff from Goffin.
- Joshua Jones
Norrie 3-6 7-5 2-6 6-3 1-1 Goffin*
Oooh.
At 30-30, Norrie serves at just 82mph and that gets the treatment it deserves – a 94mph winner from Goffin.
Break point… second serve… Goffin on top, pushing Norrie around the court as the Brit scampers to defend… and then the Belgian nets!
A huge backhand winner sets him on his way.
Another crunch hold.
- Joshua Jones
Norrie* 3-6 7-5 2-6 6-3 0-1 Goffin
Norrie gets off to a perfect start as Goffin goes long and then wide for 15-30.
But the Belgian battles back and gets himself in front at 40-30…
Norrie looks to have the ascendancy in the point but nets a drop shot forehand. Doh!
- Joshua Jones
Norrie 3-6 7-5 2-6 6-3 Goffin*
Norrie races to 40-0…
Three set points…
Double fault.
Net.
40-30…
But a booming T serve at 118mph catches the frame of Goffin's racket and lands right next to the Belgian.
We are going the distance again!
- Joshua Jones
Jabeur in trouble
Remaining favourite Ons Jabeur has dropped the first set against unseeded Czech player Marie Bouzkova on Centre.
But the Tunisian is a break up immediately in the second.
- Joshua Jones
Norrie* 3-6 7-5 2-6 5-3 Goffin
NORRIE BREAKS!
That's more like it!
Norrie lets fly at 30-15 with a forehand return, that was set up for him at just 84mph, and he pings it perfectly on to the side line.
Goffin then nets and suddenly Norrie has break point…
Second serve, on the forehand… booms it long – oh what a waste!
At advantage Goffin, a first serve is challenged and is just out – the roar and applause that met that, including from the future king, prompts the umpire to tell the crowd to stop.
This is what Norrie needs – and he knows it! He is playing up to this by wafting his arms and getting them going even more!
Goffin sends one long but gets his nose back in front but fires wide.
Another advantage goes begging and then Norrie brings up another break point with supreme speed and touch to flash a short ball across the net at an outrageous angle.
And Goffin nets!!!!
Norre will serve for the fourth set and this home crowd suddenly believe!
- Joshua Jones
Norrie 3-6 7-5 2-6 4-3 Goffin*
A cheeky, sumptuous drop shot helps set Norrie on his way.
The Brit repeats the trick at 40-15 and Goffin can only push long.
Another huge hold and doesn't Cam know it.
A roaring fist bump – the crowd respond.
You have to say the supporters could have a major influence on the outcome of this match.
They need to get behind our man!
- Joshua Jones
Norrie* 3-6 7-5 2-6 3-3 Goffin
A backhand dropped at the feet of Goffin has the Belgian bewildered and then an unforced error long offers up a break point.
Goffin saves it then another gruelling baseline rally ends with Norrie sends one long.
The Belgian survives another service game.
- Joshua Jones
Norrie 3-6 7-5 2-6 3-2 Goffin*
Backhand error by Goffin.
Backhand error by Norrie.
Up 15-30, Goffin goes for broke with a huge cross-court backhand which flashes JUST wide.
That was close.
Another backhand error from the Belgian and a strong wide serve sees out the fifth game.
- Joshua Jones
Norrie* 3-6 7-5 2-6 2-2 Goffin
Norrie gets to deuce on the Goffin serve at 1-2.
But the Belgian responds with a superb jumping smash, banging the ball into the stand behind this court.
We remain on serve in set No4.
- Joshua Jones
Norrie 3-6 7-5 2-6 1-0 Goffin*
This time around Norrie does hold to start the set.
He dumps a horrible error into the net and is frustrated but some good serving gets him out of trouble.
He pokes his nose in front…
- Joshua Jones
Norrie* 3-6 7-5 2-6 Goffin
If Cameron Norrie is going to reach his first Grand Slam semi-final, he is going to have to do it the hard way.
He trails by two sets to one as Goffin serves out the third.
Norrie is popping off for a comfort break Novak-style to regather his thoughts.
- Joshua Jones
Norrie 3-6 7-5 2-5 Goffin*
I was just about to publish a post saying Norrie is back in it!
He flashed a backhand winner up the line to pull one of the breaks back.
But immediately afterwards, Norrie is broken straight back.
Goffin to come out and serve for the third set.
Kate is sat with Tim Heman in the posh seats on Court No1 – can some royalty inspire our man Cam?
- Joshua Jones
A word on Jannik
And some lovely words from Djokovic on Sinner.
He said: "I must say a huge congratulations for a big fight from Jannik, I am sure there will be a lot of opportunities for him on the big stage.
“He is so mature for his age. He has been established now in the top 10-15 for the last few years.
“He has plenty of time, it was fortunate for him. A very good tournament. I wish him all the best for the rest of the year."
Credit: EPA Credit: Richard Pelham / The Sun - Joshua Jones
Helped stop him loo-sing
Djokovic said: “For the first two sets, compared to the last three sets, we had two different matches. He was the better player for two sets.
“I went out, I had a refreshment, a toilet break and a little pep talk in the mirror. It’s actually true.
“Sometimes in these kind of circumstances where not much is happening positively for you on the court in terms of tennis.
“And the other guy is dominating the play, sometimes these things are necessary, a little break, a little pep talk and try to recuperate and regather the thoughts and reassemble everything you have, come at your opponent with the best possible game.
“The experience of playing on this stage for many matches helped me to deal and cope with the pressure in these big matches.
“The toilet break was the turning point.
“I always believed I could turn the match round, I have done that in a grand slam, maybe it is the experience, maybe it is the toilet break, I am glad I am through.”
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