THERE is precious little shame in being outclassed by a genius.
And that was the fate suffered by Cameron Norrie, the last Brit standing in the singles at this year’s Wimbledon, as he was handed a straight-sets quarter-final hiding by Carlos Alcaraz.
The 22-year-old five-time Grand Slam champion rattled out a 6-2 6-3 6-3 hiding in just 99 minutes to book a semi-final against American fifth seed Taylor Fritz on Friday.
It was the Spaniard’s 19th consecutive victory at the All England Club and one of his most comfortable as he defeated Norrie with a blend of savagery and artistry on Centre Court.
In truth, Norrie isn’t all that British. He is a citizen of the world, while Alcaraz plays tennis from the heavens.
Norrie was the last remaining home hopeful at Wimbledon, just as he had been three years ago when he took the opening set from Novak Djokovic in his only Grand Slam semi-final.
Since reaching those giddy heights, Norrie has nosedived to No61 in the world rankings but after reaching the fourth of the French Open, he was in decent nick.
The British No3 – a South African-born, Kiwi-raised, American-educated Monaco resident – forced four break points in the first Alcaraz service game, squandering the final one by netting after a tremendous service return.
It was the only serious opportunity he would have all afternoon.
Alcaraz had dropped four sets in his previous four matches here but any idea that he might be vulnerable to another slow start was torpedoed when he broke Norrie in the third game – the Brit conceding it with a double fault.
The champion then nailed a second successive break with an extraordinary whipped lob which found the baseline like a guided missile.
There had been suggestions that Norrie’s ‘s***housing’ tactics, his ability to niggle, might unsettle the Spaniard. But that would have been dependent on him getting the ball over the net more than just occasionally.
The first set was over in just 28 minutes – Alcaraz having pummelled down five aces and nailed 80 per cent of his first serves, backing that up with some supreme shotmaking.
Centre Court was subdued in the sunshine, drowsy on a lethal cocktail of Pimm’s and Pimm’s, their efforts to raise the Brit lacking
Alcaraz opened up the second by winning a ridiculous rally with a cross-court effort at the net, yet Norrie saved a break point and held.
Not so in the next game, where he was taunted by a succession of drop-shots, Alcaraz turning up the artistry in full-on Picasso mode.
Yet Norrie stuck at it and at 2-3 down, he carved out a break-point which Alcaraz saved with a thudding ace, then added another to hold.
It was a part of a mid-set lull from Alcaraz which gave Norrie the illusion that he was in with a chance of a comeback but it was a mere trick of the light.
The champion got the drop-shot out again, cutting down his opponent with a subtle cruelty, breaking again to clinch the second set.
In the sixth game of the third set, Alcaraz earned three break points, seized the second and it was game over for Norrie, outclassed in every department.
Alcaraz said: “I am just really happy. To play another Wimbledon semi-final is super special because it’s something I wanted to do at the start of the week, to go as far as I can – the semi-final is going to be great.
“I’m pleased with how I played as Cam is an amazing player and an amazing guy, no one works harder than him.
“Taylor Fritz is playing a great grass season, he has has been really successful, two titles and now a semi-final at Wimbledon.
“I have to be ready for that battle, it’s always really tough. I will try to play at the same level as today and I may get a chance. I just want to enjoy it and live this moment.
“It will be great to rest up. I’m going to make the most of my time with my team and family.
“I will try to go out and to play some golf, to switch off my mind.
“The things I am doing are working. I will play golf with my team – some of them don’t play golf at all, so I like to laugh at them.”
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