‘You’d die’ – Cameron Norrie coach describes incredible fitness of Wimbledon semi-finalist
Wimbledon has seen much made of Cameron Norrie’s astounding physicla durability, with his coach Facundo Lugones now stoking the flame of that reputation.
The world number 12 looked as fresh five sets deep against Davis Goffin as he had at the start of their three and a half hour quarter-final.
That among other strengths carried Norrie through to becoming the first male Brit into the semi-finals of Wimbledon since Andy Murray in 2016.
Speaking in a special press conference on Wednesday, his coach Lugones explained just how fit Norrie truly is.
“[Cam] probably [does] more [fitness] than anyone,” he said. “Especially when he’s fitness training, doing some really intense conditioning sessions on the court where he stays in that red zone where the heartbeat is just insane.
“That’s why in the fifth set he looked actually more comfortable than at the beginning of the match.”
When asked to clarify on the ‘red zone’, Lugones revealed Norrie will maintain a heart rate of 200 beats per minute for upwards of seven minutes at a time.
He said: “I think a normal person can’t even do a minute and a half on that. Would probably, I don’t know, die. Would be close to passing out.
“He can play tennis for eight, nine minutes on that.”
As long as Norrie can stick with Djokovic come Friday, that capacity may well make the semi-final a contest.
Norrie said when asked in his post-quarter-final press conference about the battle to come: “Now I’m looking forward to taking it to [Djokovic] and seeing the level he brings.
When asked the all important question of whether he believes he can beat the six-time Wimbledon champion, Norrie answered: “For sure.”
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