Cameron Norrie beaten by Alexander Zverev after 32-point third-set tie-break

Cameron Norrie saved five match points in a mammoth third-set tie-break against fourth seed Alexander Zverev but saw his Wimbledon run end in the third round.

The last British player standing in the men's draw came agonisingly close to forcing a fourth set on Centre Court but was unable to take any of five set points and ultimately pushed a backhand long to go down 6-4 6-4 7-6 (15).

Zverev is having arguably the best season of his career and reached his second grand slam final at the French Open last month.

Norrie produced his best performance since pushing Zverev to a fifth-set tie-break in the fourth round of the Australian Open to beat Jack Draper, his successor as British number one, on Thursday but remains winless against the German in six matches.

Norrie held his own initially, showcasing some of the improved variety in his game that helped him test Zverev in Melbourne.

But the Olympic gold medallist is metronomic at his best, drilling the ball from corner to corner, and eventually Norrie’s resistance buckled, with Zverev breaking to lead 4-3.

The British number two was forced to scramble around behind the baseline as Zverev dictated, and it was similar story in the second set despite the German suffering a nasty slip in the fourth game trying to chase down a drop shot.

Zverev lay on the ground for a prolonged period clutching his left knee but continued after a brief consultation with the trainer.

This time the break of serve came in the ninth game, with Zverev serving it out before taking a medical time-out to have strapping applied under his knee.

Norrie battled doggedly to stay on terms in the third set, saving two break points and delighting the crowd with an underarm serve ace to hold for 6-5, taking Zverev completely