Wimbledon 2024: Cameron Norrie 'fired up' after beating Jack Draper

Cameron Norrie insists his form is “building” at Wimbledon, after Thursday’s straight-sets victory over British No1 Jack Draper set up a third-round meeting with fourth seed Alexander Zverev.

Draper replaced Norrie as the top-ranked British player last month, but was beaten 7-6, 6-4, 7-6.

Norrie now turns his focus to Friday’s meeting with Zverev, who beat him at the Australian Open this year in a gruelling five-set affair.

“I was really happy with my level,” said Norrie, who has not reached the quarter-finals of a tour-level event since the Barcelona Open in April. “It’s not easy playing Jack; he’s a good friend. I was winning a lot of tough rallies, especially in tiebreaks. I definitely carried the momentum. I was fired up.”

Asked whether regaining the British No1 status was spurring him on, Norrie said: “Not really. Jack has been doing so well. He’s had some amazing wins, won a title, beat [Carlos] Alcaraz.

“To get a win against a top player like Jack means a lot, especially in straight sets. Maybe it was easier for me going into this match being the underdog. I played my tennis and gave him nothing.”

The 28-year-old, a Wimbledon semi-finalist in 2022, believes he is playing at the same level as when he beat 11th seed Casper Ruud at this year’s Australian Open.

“I’ve lost a lot of close matches recently, so it’s nice to win one in a Grand Slam,” said Norrie.

“I’m building, but it doesn’t get any easier. I’m playing Zverev in the next one. I’m going to have to keep raising my level. I’ve never beaten him, so it’s a really tough draw for me.”

Draper practised with Norrie ahead of the Championships and believes his fellow countryman, now the only Brit left in the men’s singles draw, knew his game too well.

Draper said: “He got it spot on. I struggled with the way he was playing.

“We practise together a lot and know each other so well. Sometimes he can almost take away what I’m good at. He knew all my patterns of play.”