Cameron Norrie might be one of the more understated superstars, but the British No 1 seemed to bask in the headline slot on Centre Court as he finally ended an enduring streak of grand slam disappointments. Six times Norrie had fallen short in the third round, a record unbecoming of his newfound status as the ninth seed, but he made impressively light work of Steve Johnson in a 6-4 6-1 6-0 victory that raises the prospect of a deep run this Wimbledon fortnight.
The 26-year-old will face another American, Tommy Paul, in the fourth round but has benefitted from an extremely kind draw and should have reasonable expectations of reaching the semi-finals. That fact might not be met with the hysteria it deserves simply because of how unassuming Norrie is. There is not necessarily anything hugely striking about his game, nor does he deliver the sort of evocative displays of emotion the crowd on Centre Court crave. Instead, he is relentlessly precise and consistent, outworking and outlasting his opponents, thanks to a brilliant defence and superb work ethic.
