Norrie finds form to stun British number one Draper

Cameron Norrie looked backmost to his champion arsenic he stunned British number 1 Jack Draper pinch an assured second-round triumph astatine Wimbledon.

Norrie was displaced by Draper, 22, arsenic Britain’s starring man past month.

The 28-year-old has struggled this season, suffering first-round exits astatine nan French Open, Queen’s and Eastbourne.

But he moved past an in-form Draper 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 7-6 (8-6).

"It wasn't easy coming retired present coming to play Jack, he's been playing truthful good and we're specified bully friends disconnected nan tribunal truthful we had to put that speech today," said Norrie.

"I felt for illustration I was a small spot of nan underdog coming successful today, truthful I was beautiful relaxed."

Norrie’s triumph was different triumph for British number twos connected Court One aft Harriet Dart overcame Britain’s top-ranked female Katie Boulter successful bonzer manner earlier connected Thursday.

British wildcard Jacob Fearnley took a group disconnected seven-time champion Novak Djokovic but fell short of creating a seismic daze earlier connected Thursday astatine Wimbledon.

Fearnley, a 22-year-old from Scotland, was beaten 6-3 6-4 5-7 7-5 by nan Serb 2nd seed successful an increasingly-febrile ambiance connected Centre Court.

"All successful each this lucifer perchance deserved to spell into a fifth, peculiarly pinch nan measurement he played successful nan fourth. But I'm very gladsome it didn't," said Djokovic, who is still recovering from knee room past month.

Draper came into nan Championships connected a rich | vein of shape having won his first ATP Tour title successful Stuttgart a mates of weeks earlier.

Seeded astatine Wimbledon for nan first time, his five-set triumph nether nan Centre Court lights successful nan first-round evoked memories of Andy Murray.

But Draper, whose profession has already been hampered by wounded and fittingness issues, will person to hold astatine slightest different twelvemonth to effort and emulate nan two-time Wimbledon winner.

The near handers needed a tie-break to settee nan opening group and Norrie swept speech his big-hitting force pinch lightning-fast reactions astatine nan net.

The erstwhile world number 8 continued to outsmart Draper, winning nan adjacent 4 games earlier holding disconnected nan 28th seed to return a two-set lead.

Unable to service retired nan 3rd aft breaking early, Draper was near ruing missed chances arsenic Norrie took complaint of nan tie-break to scope nan 3rd round.

He will look either German 4th seed Alexander Zverev aliases American Marcos Giron.

Fearnley, nan world number 277, vanished his assemblage studies successful nan United States successful May.

Six weeks later, he was trying to hit 1 of nan top players of all-time connected nan world's astir iconic tennis court.

Making his main-draw debut astatine nan All England Club, Fearnley showcased his talent and caused superior problems for nan 24-time Grand Slam champion.

Fearnley was 2 points distant from taking nan lucifer into a deciding group earlier Djokovic survived to travel through.

It was an awesome capacity from nan British number 13, who deservedly received a opinionated ovation which Djokovic joined successful with.

"He played very bully tennis and deserves a awesome information of applause," said Djokovic.

"I hadn't had a chance to spot him play until 2 days ago, location is ever an constituent of astonishment and thing for him to lose.

"He served very well, it was difficult to break his service and he made maine work.

"All successful each this lucifer perchance deserved to spell into a fifth, peculiarly pinch nan measurement he played successful nan fourth. But I'm very gladsome it didn't."

Facing 37-year-old Djokovic connected Centre Court was Fearnley's reward for a marvellous summertime connected nan British writer courts.

Ranked extracurricular nan world's apical 500 past month, Fearnley won nan Nottingham Open for his first title connected nan ATP Challenger Tour and was fixed a wildcard for nan Wimbledon main tie arsenic a result.

He said he "froze" watching Friday's tie arsenic nan realisation dawned he could beryllium pitted against Djokovic.

But Fearnley much than warmed to nan task erstwhile he saw 1 of his idols, who he had watched "countless" times connected television, connected nan other broadside of nan net.

A competitory commencement saw Fearnley confidently clasp his opening 3 work games successful nan first 2 sets, and create a break constituent astatine 2-1 up successful nan second, earlier being worn down by Djokovic's relentless returning.

Fearnley mislaid service astatine 2-2 successful nan 3rd group and Djokovic's passionate ceremony was a motion of really overmuch he was being pushed.

However, Fearnley refused to beryllium disheartened.

He collapsed consecutive backmost for 3-3, saved 2 much break points for a 5-4 lead, past pinched nan 3rd group pinch different break to nan delight of nan jubilant location fans.

Fearnley continued to play calmly and fearlessly and, astatine 4-5 and 15-30 successful nan fourth, was 2 points distant from levelling nan match.

But Djokovic recovered his first service conscionable erstwhile it mattered to bent connected and, aft Fearnley blinked pinch a double responsibility connected break constituent astatine 5-5, moved into nan past 32 without needing to spell nan distance.

Djokovic is still recovering from knee room he had past month, but offered fewer beingness excuses arsenic he praised his opponent.

"Again, in installments to Jacob. On my side, I should person done immoderate things amended erstwhile I was a break up successful nan third," said Djokovic, who will look Australian world number 46 Alexei Popyrin next.

"Can I beryllium playing amended and moving better? Absolutely. I dream arsenic nan tourney progresses I'll beryllium emotion overmuch better."