Cameron Norrie speeds past Bolt to put Federer in his Wimbledon sights

There is no more underrated quality in professional tennis than consistency. The last men and women standing on any given week understandably receive all the attention and spoils, no matter how streaky they are, but tennis is a sport that spans 45 weeks of the year with an endless string of variables that can stop players producing quality tennis.

Amid constantly changing surfaces, time zones, conditions and personal circumstances, the ability to step up to the baseline and produce a high level week after week is a rare virtue. Enter Cameron Norrie, who reached the third round of Wimbledon for the first time in his career with a ruthlessly efficient performance on No 1 Court, recovering from an early 0-3 deficit to defeat Alex Bolt of Australia 6-3, 6-1, 6-2. The 25-year-old British player will next face Roger Federer after the Swiss defeated Richard Gasquet in straight sets.

This is the first time Norrie has been seeded at a grand slam event, a distinction some doubted he would achieve because of his lack of huge weaponry. Instead 2021 has been a stellar year in which he has reached 34 in the world rankings. He is also 12th in the ATP race, and his rise has been the product of his consistentcy.

“I’m just trying to take it week by week, match by match,” Norrie said. “I think with tennis or with any sport, there’s always going to be distractions or things that are going to happen with different changes of conditions, different surfaces. You don’t like that one as much. I don’t know, something happens with a stringer. There’s so many variables going on a lot of the time. I think I’ve done my best to stay – kind of push all that stuff aside – just focus on what I can do that day, what I can execute.”

Norrie has played 14 tournaments this year and won two or more matches at 12 of them. His win-loss record of 31-13 (70%) is the third best in the circuit. He has shown himself to be a true all-court player, reaching two finals during the clay season and then contesting the biggest one of his career on grass at Queen’s Club last month.

Norrie has become more comfortable controlling points and finishing them with his forehand, a shot that has at times been a liability. On the grass, instead of remaining passive behind the baseline, he has found great success at the net. He says he works more diligently off the court, embracing practice more than in the past.

“It stems from just training every day and waking up every day, giving my best,” he said. “I’m really pleased with how I’m doing this year. Obviously I think I’ve got a lot of things that I want to keep improving. There’s more things I can add to my experience, little things that I’m learning along the way. It’s been really fun. I’m happy with how I’m doing. But I want to keep pushing for more.”

Norrie’s impressive dismissal of Bolt was a measure of his progress. His opponent was in form having won an ATP Challenger tournament in Nottingham. He started the match in kind, serving at a high level and crushing potent forehands but even at 3-0 down Norrie was unmoved. As the first set wore on, he slowly reeled Bolt in with deep returns and his flat, low-bouncing backhand. The Australian could not match his level, finishing the match with 38 unforced errors, 25 of which came on his forehand aas Norrie’s defence forced him to take increasingly reckless risks.

The result is that three British men – Norrie, Andy Murray and Dan Evans – have reached the third round of Wimbledon for the first time since 1999, an appropriate climax to a promising grass season for the home nation. Unless he secures an enormous win or a big title, Norrie will almost certainly receive the least attention of the three, but the discipline that has underpinned his improvement should be a reference to younger players and his success should be recognised and valued as such.