When this quarter-final was definitively wrapped up after only 1hr 39min, the noise on Centre Court was a subdued mixture of applause and the odd whoop. The applause was polite, acknowledging a sporting contest had taken place, even if it had not been competitive. The whoops were a little performative. Britain’s last remaining singles hope at these Championships, Cameron Norrie, had been outclassed by a purring Carlos Alcaraz 6-2, 6-3, 6-3.
Alcaraz, the reigning men’s champion, had whipped through the match, whipped forehand winner after forehand winner, and whipped his opponent into meek submission. It had been so tough for Norrie that he had felt the need to fist-pump simply for holding points on his serve. This is where the whoops came in; the crowd’s own attempt to find encouragement where it could.
