Qualifier Zheng Edges Norrie to Score First Wimbledon Win and Extend British Misery

By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, June 29, 2026
Photo credit: Cameron Spencer/Getty

Wimbledon—Decisive tiebreakers demand commitment.

Driven the distance by home hero Cameron Norrie, American Michael Zheng stung his forehand with conviction creating stirring closing power.

The 144th-ranked qualifier Zheng out-dueled former Wimbledon semifinalist Cameron Norrie 6-7(7), 6-2, 6-7(2), 6-3, 7-6(10-4) on No. 2 Court to win his Wimbledon main-draw debut.

At the outset, British fans were chanting “Let’s Go Cam! Let’s Go Cam!”.

By the end of this pulsating four-hour thriller, fans were shouting “Michael! Michael!” saluting the 2022 Wimbledon boys’ finalist for the finest performance of his pro career.

It is Zheng’s second career Tour-level victory coming five months after he surprised Sebastian Korda at the Australian Open for his first win.

“First of all, thank you so much to the crowd. It was an unbelievable atmosphere—this is what you dream of, you know,” Zheng said. “I’m just really honored to be part of a match like this. It means so much.

“This is what every kid dreams of to play on a court like this against such an accomplished player. It’s an amazing feeling.”

It’s a foreboding feeling for British tennis.

Last night, British women’s No. 1 Emma Raducanu withdrew from the tournament with a right leg injury.

Today, former world No. 4 and perennial British hope Jack Draper pulled out of SW19 with a recurrence of his left arm injury.

Home heartbreak hit a new crescendo today. British No. 1 Norrie, who reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals last year, suffered his sixth straight loss—and first five-set loss at SW19.

“It’s tough, but it’s a nice feeling that I did leave everything out there. I tried every single point, and then gave the best attitude, got myself ready for point for point,” Norrie said. “That’s a nice feeling.

“It always stinks to lose, especially at Wimbledon, my favorite tournament in the world, a tournament I always play so well at. I played well today.

“I think it just takes probably a week or so for this kind of loss to get over. There’s no hiding from it. Yeah, it stinks. Especially tomorrow, everyone is still in the tournament, and you’re out. You’re just wanting to play. So it’s tough.”

In a match of college all Americans—Zheng won the NCAA championship twice for the Columbia Lions while Norrie was the No. 1 ranked college player during his days playing for TCU—the 22-year-old Zheng was better on the biggest points today.

The slender Zheng, who has qualified for the first three majors of this season, served with more authority and played more proactive tennis in the final tiebreaker today. If you’ve seen Zheng play previously, you know he’s a creative baseliner. 

Today, Zheng showed all-court acumen, worked the one-handed slice low to Norrie’s forehand and won 32 of 49 trips to net.

Zheng zapped 21 aces against 4 double faults and dropped serve only once in five sets. In contrast, the left-handed Norrie hit six aces against 10 double faults and dropped serve four times.

“Definitely not easy,” Zheng said of severe fifth-set stress. “I just tried my best not to show it. I’d been serving so well that I really had [opportunities] throughout the match. When it doesn’t go your way, it’s a little frustrating. At the same time, I’m trying to refocus and win.”

Though Norrie’s flat backhand struck with a bit of sidespin can unsettle opponents—and caused some framed forehand replies from the American early—once Zheng found his range on the forehand, he was whipping that shot with menace. Zheng cracked 74 winners on the day—28 more than Norrie.

“I knew he was a really tough player. He’s one of the best college players, if not the best college player, at the moment. He quallied for both slams,” Norrie said. “I knew he was a good player. I was quite surprised how he handled my game. My backhand to his forehand, he actually quite liked that, which is on the grass probably my most effective play. He was giving me nothing there, which is weird for me. Usually I’m getting so many free points on that exchange.

“I had to adapt in the match. He was adapting well. He was changing his serve. I was not so much surprised, more impressed with his level. Give him a lot of credit. Especially the way he won the fifth set, maybe hit seven winners in the fifth-set tiebreaker is pretty good. He deserved it in the end in that tiebreak.”

At 5-all in the fifth set, Zheng flicked a forehand pass crosscourt for a break point. Norrie’s next drive crashed into the tape and crawled over on the American’s side as Zheng slipped and fell to the lawn trying to change direction. 

The 22-year-old Zheng knocked off a backhand volley to force the fifth-set match tiebreaker after three hours, 51 minutes of play.

The tiebreaker was even at 3-all, when Zheng found a higher level. Zheng flashed a forehand down the line for 5-3 then Zheng smacked three forehand winners 

Firing two more forehand winners brought Zheng to 7-4 then Zheng drilled a forehand winner crosscourt for 9-4,

The following 14-shot rally ended with a netted Norrie forehand as Zheng thrust his arms toward the sky.