Cameron Norrie routs Steve Johnson and begins to win over Centre Court

There are stealth planes that have flown less under the radar than Cameron Norrie has at Wimbledon down the years. But halfway through the British No 1’s quiet destruction of the American journeyman Steve Johnson, something shifted. People started to get to their feet. Wave their fists. Make noise.

And as the decibel levels rose, the increasingly rowdy crowd also came up with a new chant: “Norrie! Norrie! Norrie! Oi! Oi! Oi!” It was the sound of joy, but also acceptance.

It has taken a while. The fact that Norrie was born in Johannesburg to a Scottish father and Welsh mother – and then spent the first 16 years of his life in New Zealand – perhaps has played a part. His late development and the pandemic has also meant it has taken a while for him to cut through.

But Norrie certainly has now after destroying Johnson 6-4, 6-1, 6-0 to make the last 16 of a grand slam for the first time.

“I played really well today and enjoyed it,” said Norrie. “It was great to see the crowd reacting and it definitely added to the atmosphere of the match.” Asked directly about the chant, he began to smile. “Honestly, it was pretty funny,” he replied. “I don’t know why I was thinking, every time they sang it, I broke serve. It’s a good sign – I’m a little bit superstitious. But when you’ve got the momentum and everything is kind of going your way, it can help. I’ll definitely take that.

“On the flip side of that, if I was down in the score, they can bring me through it. Trying to use it to my advantage as much as I can. It was good fun out there.”

Norrie also addressed his background, pointing out that he had lived in London before and after going to college in the US. “I’m very rarely in New Zealand,” he added. “I’ve barely been in the last