WIMBLEDON fever will sweep the nation today as last Brit standing Cameron Norrie plays his biggest match in years.
Millions are set to watch the home hope, 29, battle double-defending champ Carlos Alcaraz in a quarter-final tie the Spaniard has branded a “nightmare”.
Alcaraz, 22, is on an 18-match winning streak in South West London but admitted tricky left-hander Cam was the man he was trying to avoid.
And he conceded that downing the Brit in front of 15,000 fans on Centre Court this afternoon would be difficult work.
Among them could be close pal Emma Raducanu, who watched Alcaraz’s four-set slugfest with Russian Andrey Rublev on Sunday night.
Norrie has faced the five-time Grand Slam winner six times in four years — winning two and losing four.
A shock win today would see him repeat his heroic foray to the semi-finals three years ago.
Norrie recently said his giant lungs helped him in long matches.
He said: “I just randomly did a test. They were like, ‘Oh, you must be some deep sea diver… they’re huge’.
“Since then I’ve had huge confidence in my cardio. I can back myself in those longer rallies. It’s just kind of a false confidence, but I’ll take it.”
On winning the tournament, Norrie added: “I’m going to play point-for-point as always.”
Alcaraz said: “Facing Cam is always really difficult, almost a nightmare.
“He’s going to use the crowd to his side. I have to be really strong mentally and focused.”
Read the full article here