Wimbledon 2025: Cam Norrie books third round spot with upset win over 12th seed Frances Tiafoe
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British No.3 Cam Norrie stunned 12th seed Frances Tiafoe with an impressive four set win to reach the third round at Wimbledon.
2022 semi-finalist Norrie battled back from a set down to beat the world No.12 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-5 in just under three hours to seal a place in the round of 32.
It marks the first top 20 win at Wimbledon in his career so far.
The 29-year-old becomes only the sixth British player in the Open Era to reach the third round of the men’s singles at SW19 on four occasions – joining Andy Murray (13), Tim Henman (9), Mark Cox (6), Greg Rusedski (5) and Chris Wilkinson.
It was a bit of deja-vu for Norrie who also won his second round match on No.1 Court last year against fellow Brit Jack Draper.
“I was really happy when I saw the schedule and saw I was on No.1 Court – it’s my favourite court,” Norrie said after the match.
“It was an amazing atmosphere and think we both played a really high level. I stayed so calm, I was playing point for point. I served well and I was enjoying the battle.
“It was really nice to play Frances in a big match here at Wimbledon and I was really happy with my level.”
Despite having made the semi-finals here before and playing a few matches on the biggest courts at The Championships in front of the home crowd – it still brings up the same emotions every time.
I tried to take it all in, enjoy it and smile as much as I could.
“It’s so special,” he said. “I walked around the corner and I just had goosebumps. It’s such a special court, such a special tournament, there’s so much tradition.
“I tried to take it all in, enjoy it and smile as much as I could.”
Next up, Norrie will play Italian Mattia Bellucci who upset HSBC Championships runner-up and 23rd seed Jiri Lehecka in straight sets.
He has now defeated two other former Grand Slam semi-finalists in the opening round, after beating Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut in the first round.
The Brit has two top 15 wins to his name this year – both coming at Grand Slams, after he also knocked out Daniil Medvedev in five sets en-route to the fourth round at Roland Garros.
However, it was Tiafoe who made the brighter start to the match and was full of energy in the opening set. The American No.2 broke for a 3-2 lead after Norrie pushed a backhand long and didn’t face a single break point of his own in the opening set to take a commanding lead.
Norrie last came back from a set down to win a match at Wimbledon in his five-set victory over David Goffin in the 2022 quarter-final and the British star came out in the second with renewed intensity, which seemed to drain Tiafoe.
The American missed three break points at 4-4, 0-40, which proved a golden opportunity wasted. Norrie flipped the match on its head with a backhand pass to break himself and take the set in the following game.
In the big moments, Norrie seemed to have the edge over his opponent. In the closing stages of the third set he fired a forehand winner to break for a 5-3 advantage. Having lost a two-game lead earlier in the set, this time he made no mistake – two unreturnable serves to take the third from 30-30.
Confidence growing with each passing game, Norrie took full advantage on the Tiafoe second serve – winning 71% of points (17/24) to break the 12th seed twice.
Serving for the match, Norrie remained ice cold. A 17th ace of the match at 30-15 set up a match point, which he took at the first time of asking to claim his second career win over Tiafoe and first at a major.
