Norrie’s Gritty Triumph
Cameron Norrie, Britain’s No. 3, became the last British singles player standing at Wimbledon 2025, reaching the quarter-finals with a grueling 6-3, 7-6(7-4), 6-7(7-9), 6-7(5-7), 6-3 victory over Chile’s Nicolas Jarry on July 6. The four-hour, 27-minute epic saw Norrie, ranked world No. 61, take a two-set lead before Jarry fought back, forcing a fifth-set decider. Norrie’s resilience (78% first-serve points won, 2.8 winners per set) sealed the win. “Honestly, I don’t know how I got through,” Norrie said. “Nico stuck with me, but I kept fighting.” His run echoes his 2022 semi-final appearance, Wimbledon’s last British men’s singles milestone.
Raducanu’s Exit
Emma Raducanu, Britain’s No. 1, fell 7-6, 6-4 to world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the third round on July 4, ending her campaign. Despite a strong showing against 2023 champion Marketa Vondrousova (6-3, 6-3), Raducanu struggled against Sabalenka’s power (39% attacking shots, 2.9 aces per set), managing only 14 winners to Sabalenka’s 28. “She took the racquet out of my hand,” Raducanu said, reflecting on her need for “more weapons.” Her exit, alongside losses by Katie Boulter, Sonay Kartal, and Oliver Tarvet, left Norrie as the sole British singles hope from a record 23 home players.
Norrie vs. Alcaraz
Norrie faces a formidable challenge against world No. 2 and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals on July 8, likely on Centre Court (~14:00 BST). Alcaraz, on a 21-match win streak, crushed Andrey Rublev 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 in the fourth round, showcasing his grass-court dominance (83% first-serve points won). Norrie, who beat Alcaraz in Rio 2023 but trails 2-1 in their head-to-head, needs his baseline consistency (1.9 unforced errors per set) to counter Alcaraz’s 3.1 winners per game. “It’s a huge test, but I’m ready,” Norrie said. A win could see him face Jannik Sinner or Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals.
British Hopes in Doubles and Wheelchair
With singles hopes resting on Norrie, Britain looks to doubles and wheelchair events for success. Alfie Hewett, who won men’s wheelchair singles and doubles in 2024, aims to repeat, facing Shingo Kunieda in the semi-finals. In men’s doubles, Joe Salisbury and Rajeev Ram, seeded No. 3, reached the quarter-finals, while Harriet Dart and Maia Lumsden remain in women’s doubles. The £53.5m prize pool, with £3m for singles champions, adds stakes. Fans on X call Norrie “Britain’s warrior,” but Alcaraz’s form (18-match grass streak) makes him a 75% favorite per WinViz.
Next Steps
Norrie’s clash with Alcaraz, broadcast live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, and TNT Sports (highlights, 22:00–23:30), headlines day nine. A victory would mark Britain’s best men’s singles run since Andy Murray’s 2017 quarter-final. Hewett’s wheelchair campaign and doubles efforts keep British hopes alive, while Raducanu shifts focus to the US Open, aiming to break Lesia Tsurenko’s Ukrainian record of 45 Grand Slam appearances. Wimbledon’s drama, intensified by rain delays and upsets like Coco Gauff’s exit, continues through July 13, with Norrie carrying the nation’s aspirations.
