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Wimbledon day seven: Cameron Norrie into quarters, Heather Watson bows out

Wimbledon day seven: Norrie into quarters, Watson bows out
© Reuters
Cameron Norrie makes his first Grand Slam quarter-final while Heather Watson packs her bags on day seven of the 2022 Wimbledon Championships.

Great Britain's Cameron Norrie booked his spot in the last eight of Wimbledon on day seven of the Championships, but Heather Watson's run came to a swift end.

Norrie had never reached the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam tournament before taking on the USA's Tommy Paul but only needed three sets to get the job done 6-4 7-5 6-4.

While the Norrie forehand proved particularly effective on Sunday, Paul shanked one of his own wide at match point to send his counterpart through to the last eight, where David Goffin awaits.

Norrie's last-eight appearance marks the first time in three years that Britain have a singles representative in the last eight at Wimbledon, with Johanna Konta managing to get that far in 2019.

"It is a shock to reach the quarter-finals for the first time. To play a match like that, a big one for both of us, to play the way I did was really good. I really enjoyed it," Norrie said on the court.

"Unfortunately I'm the last [Briton] standing. But I think it's even more reason for everyone to get behind me. I think from the first round everyone has been behind me and supporting me."

As Norrie mentioned, the world number 12 is now the last home favourite left fighting in the singles tournament after Heather Watson went down in straight sets to Jule Niemeier.

Heather Watson pictured at Wimbledon on July 3, 2022© Reuters

As was the case with Norrie, Watson was bidding to reach her first-ever major quarter-final but was swept aside by Niemeier, who eased to a 6-2 6-4 success on centre court.

The 30-year-old would make things interesting with an immediate break at the start of the second set, but a spate of double faults allowed Niemeier to regain the initiative, and the German did not let up.

Elsewhere, Emma Raducanu's conqueror Caroline Garcia saw her run come to an end in a 7-6 5-2 loss to Marie Bouzkova, while Ons Jabeur battled her way past Elise Mertens and 12th seed Jelena Ostapenko fell to world number 103 Tatjana Maria.

A bad day for the Americans saw Frances Tiafoe's run also come to an end against Goffin, while fifth seed Carlos Alcaraz Garfia failed to earn a single break from seven opportunities in a four-set defeat to Jannik Sinner.

Defending champion Novak Djokovic took on 104th-ranked debutant Tim van Rijthoven, who memorably managed to win a set against the Serbian with a flurry of aces to level proceedings at 1-1.

However, the Dutchman soon netted in abundance as Djokovic breezed his way through the third set before taking control of the fourth early on with an immediate break of serve.

Djokovic soon had two match points to his name and sealed the win with a stunning forehand winner down the line, advancing to the last eight via a 6-2 4-6 6-1 6-2 triumph.

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Written by
Ben Knapton

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Andy Murray pictured at Wimbledon on June 27, 2022
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