There was a time when shouts of “Come on, Tim” sounded loud and proud on the Wimbledon center court, and fans of that particular era sometimes broke tradition by adding the name “Greg” to this combination.
Even Andy Murray, after his vivid performance on the mature stage, had to live with him for a while in the shadow of Henman, because the regular visitors of SW19 refused to change their habits or took great pleasure in continuing a joke that was never really funny.
Now everyone has a new name on their lips: Cameron Norrie is growing rapidly. Having just reached the semi-finals on grass in southwest London, he now has a 50/1 tennis betting odds to win the first Grand Slam tournament crown at the 2022 U.S. Open.
Those who collect tips on betting on tennis may not yet be fully convinced by his outstanding qualities, but he is a rising star, and the Masters 1000 title has already been won on the hard courts in Indian Wells.
To date, this remains his most outstanding achievement, but one run before the last square at Wimbledon, his shares skyrocketed in the eyes of passionate fans who demand that someone follow in the footsteps of three-time winner Murray.
Norrie somehow broke the glass ceiling, and in the second week of the prestigious tournament, it happened for the first time. Now he knows what it takes to make this step, with experience that is worth its weight in gold at the top of this sport
A new hero?
The long-awaited recognition now falls on a man born in South Africa and raised in New Zealand by Welsh and Scottish parents. Like Canadian convert Greg Rusedski before him, Norrie is embraced as if he is as British as fish and chips and a cup of tea.
It took him five years to achieve this after he turned professional in 2017, but a left-hander with excellent skills has come a long way in a relatively short period of time. Few Brits would have noticed him walking past them on the street a few months ago, but now he’s a new hero to the masses.
In many ways, he should have received this status some time ago. He reached the final of an ATP Tour tournament for the first time in 2019, simultaneously entering the top 50 of the world tournaments, before smashing his Dak trophy in 2021. From there, a rise into the top 10 was made, and Norrie is now among the elite.
He followed in the footsteps of Henman, Rusedski and Murray, taking first place in the top 10 seeded at Wimbledon, and has already achieved the best results from the first name on this list and improved the second. Only a Scot with two titles under his belt stands above him.
Time is on Norrie’s side when it comes to imitating these achievements, and he will return to this at Wimbledon in 2023. By then, the tune in the stands will have changed to “Come on, Cam,” as there’s a chance the evolution from Henman Hill to Murray Mound will continue as Norrie Knoll takes center stage.