Cameron Norrie’s US Open run was ended last night at the hands of Novak Djokovic.
It was a cold, calculated performance from the 24-time Grand Slam champion, who executed his game plan to perfection against the hard-working Brit.
And whilst it was a relatively straightforward result, aside from losing the one set, there was a mid-match flashpoint that threatened to evolve into something more.
After all, it was enough for Cam Norrie to take issue with Novak Djokovic, and even complain to the US Open umpire about it.
Why Cameron Norrie complained to the US Open umpire about Novak Djokovic
Although only a small moment, David Law sought to point this flashpoint out, telling The Tennis Podcast: “In the end, [the match was] not much [trouble for Djokovic], I don’t think.
“It was a little bit of a concern when he had a twinge to his back and he had a medical time out. It was a bit a—- between Norrie and him at that point because Norrie seemed to be asking the umpire, ‘How many times is he allowed to have a trainer out?’ And Djokovic definitely seemed to shoot him a glance as if to say, ‘Stay out of it, mate.’ Anyway, they’ve had a few things happening in the past.”
He then assessed Djokovic’s level as the match went on, continuing: “But I think the really interesting thing is, and Djokovic, he warmed up and loosened up a lot of the time these players, they get a twinge and they get worried, and then they realise, oh, it’s okay. I’m okay. So I think he’s alright, but time will tell.
“The interesting thing to me was that this was a much cleaner performance from Djokovic at the start and particularly at the end. I feel like he really found his range as the last two sets took place, and I think maybe Norrie started to struggle a little bit. I don’t know whether there was a physical specific issue, but he certainly seemed to slow down a bit.
“But the interesting bit to me was when Norrie levelled the match, and that kind of came out of the blue, I thought Djokovic was going to go two sets to love up, and Djokovic, the past master of tie breaks, and it really is in the past now, because he lost his, whilst Sabalenka has taken that mantle on.
“And then Djokovic went one love down in the third set, with some of the best tennis I think I’ve ever seen from Cam Norrie. Just unreal combinations of shots to go at one love up.
“I went into the Aryna Sabalenka press conference and came out. The break had been retrieved. It suddenly was 4-1, and the match felt over.”
Djokovic admitted Norrie surprised him during their match with his level, suggesting that any animosity had disappeared by the end of the match.
Novak Djokovic’s road to the US Open final looks daunting
Whilst a match-up against Jan-Lennard Struff in the next round will likely not scare Djokovic, given his 7-0 head-to-head record against the German, it’s what is set to come after that should really worry him.
After all, if he is to win an elusive 25th Grand Slam title, he will likely have to go through fourth seed Taylor Fritz in the quarter-final, second seed Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals, and the ultra-dominant Jannik Sinner in the final.
Over the years, he has claimed big wins over all three of these superstars, but as time goes on his level is expected to wane, whilst they are only getting better.
Physically, he cannot compete with their youthful energy as the match goes on.
However, if he is to win a record-breaking major in New York, it would be so typically Djokovic to do it in the hardest possible way, to leave his greatest of all time status beyond doubt.
