Wimbledon 2022: Norrie battles, breaks down then admits: "I was lucky"

It sparkles in the sun and bounces on his chest when he hits a winner, also when he embarks on a self-conscious leap of celebration at the end of a match.

What is the chain that Cameron Norrie wears around his neck and what is its significance? Maybe we’ll find out if he keeps on winning.

But right now, because of his deeply unshowy demeanour, it’s incongruous. By his shy and retiring standards, it’s ostentatious and almost decadent, like he wants to challenge hip-hop superstars Jay-Z and Kanye West to a bling-off.

The straightforward, honest to goodness truth is that Norrie’s only interested in challenging Novak Djokovic for a place in the men’s final at Wimbledon.

But what an almighty scrap was demanded of him. We knew he was a precision guy. We knew he was as careful with his emotions as his shots. Last night, though, he had to battle like never before.

There were times against Belgium’s David Goffin when he was being so far outplayed that it only seemed a matter of time before he would be popped in the box marked “British - Plucky”.

But time was on his side. This epic stretched to three hours and 28 minutes and he needed every single second. And the crowd were on his side. At the end this man of few words could hardly talk but made sure he thanked No1 Court. And then - what was this? - he seemed to get something in his eye.

Over on Centre, Djokovic was coming back from two sets down to claim his place in Friday’s semi-finals. Serbia’s defending champ needed longer to overcome Jannik Sinner of Italy but only by seven minutes. Scant consolation for Norrie who will know he’ll have to play much better to have a chance of being part of the showpiece come Sunday.

Centre is celebrating its centenary this year. No1 sits in