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Cameron Norrie in line for £5m windfall as Andy Murray backs him to push Novak Djokovic to the limit

Cameron Norrie arrives for practice at Wimbledon today before Friday's Semi Final battle against Novak Djokovic . Wimbledon Tennis Championships Wimbledon - Cameron Norrie can push Novak Djokovic all the way, says Andy Murray - HEATHCLIFF O'MALLEY
Cameron Norrie arrives for practice at Wimbledon today before Friday's Semi Final battle against Novak Djokovic . Wimbledon Tennis Championships Wimbledon - Cameron Norrie can push Novak Djokovic all the way, says Andy Murray - HEATHCLIFF O'MALLEY

Cameron Norrie stands to land a £5million Wimbledon windfall as Andy Murray backed him to stretch Novak Djokovic to the limit in Friday's semi-finals.

Norrie, who was born in South Africa to a Scottish father and a Welsh mother before moving to New Zealand when he was three, has been the breakout British hit of this summer's tournament, reaching the last four of a grand slam for the first time.

He is facing a daunting obstacle in the six-time champion Djokovic, who has won his last 37 matches on Centre Court - an unprecedented streak that not even Roger Federer can match.

Yet Murray – himself a veteran of seven Wimbledon semi-finals – pointed back to Emma Raducanu’s shock run to last year’s US Open title for proof that Norrie, 26, can spring a shock in his first grand slam semi-final.

“We’ve seen some stuff in tennis over the last few years that no one expected, like with Emma,” Murray told the Evening Standard. “Novak had a very tough match against Jannik Sinner [on Tuesday] which I don’t think many were expecting.

“He came through it but it was tight and Cam is right up there with guys like Sinner right now in terms of ranking and results. It’s going to be close.

“But the thing that you can guarantee with Cam is he will give himself the best opportunity to win because he will fight for every single point. He’s one of the best players in the world."

Andy Murray leaves the practice courts on day ten of the 2022 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon. Picture date: Wednesday July 6, 2022 - PA
Andy Murray leaves the practice courts on day ten of the 2022 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon. Picture date: Wednesday July 6, 2022 - PA

Norrie is already guaranteed £535,000 in All England Club prize money for reaching the last four and brand experts believe he could earn an extra £5m this year as British tennis seek to fill in the hole in the men's game left by Murray.

Marcel Knobil, founder of Superbrands and the Brand Council consultancy, says Norrie is entering a "momentous" period as he fast becomes the most marketable asset in British tennis behind Emma Raducanu.

"Norrie has finally captured the attention of brands who have been relishing a replacement for Andy Murray," Knobil told Telegraph Sport. "Whilst he has yet to secure heroic status, the quarter-final win has lit the fuse of what can now be a really high-earning career. I anticipate his earnings could easily rise above £5m this year from his quarter-final win."

The prospect of huge wealth is unlikely to be much of a distraction for Norrie, who has been cycling to Wimbledon each day and described by his girlfriend as "down to earth".

'Norrie's on the verge of becoming the face of many brands'

But Knobil added: "He is currently at a truly momentous stage of his career. He’s teetering on the verge of becoming the face of many brands, and putting a big smile on the face of his bank manager, but only a few more significant victories will secure the £10m and above terrain."

Norrie's American entrepreneur girlfriend Louise Jacobi said she met the UK’s top tennis player at a New York bar three years ago and has been travelling around the world to support him ever since.

Jacobi was in tears after watching her boyfriend defeat Belgium’s David Goffin in front of thousands of spectators including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on Tuesday.

“It was surreal," she said. “When your significant other is crying in front of you – like choking up – how could I keep a dry eye?

“I remember him saying when we first met: ‘Oh, my dream would be to be in the top 10.’ Back then I didn’t know it was going to transpire, and just watching his hard work pay off has been insane.”

When asked about how she was feeling for Norrie’s next game against Djokovic, Jacobi said: “It’s definitely going to be a tough match. But I know he can do it.”