The upsets maintain coming at Wimbledon. Following an upset-heavy first spherical, American Frances Tiafoe added his title to the checklist of disappointing performers after a loss to Cameron Norrie on Tuesday.
Tiafoe misplaced the match in 4 units, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-5.
Tiafoe obtained off to an honest begin, taking the primary set 6-4. However he couldn’t maintain that momentum. Tiafoe dropped the following two units in opposition to Norrie 6-4, 6-3, to fall behind within the match.
With Tiafoe on the ropes, the American determined to take a prolonged rest room break forward of the fourth set. His absence lingered longer than anticipated, inflicting some to accuse Tiafoe of making an attempt to halt Norrie’s momentum. Tiafoe was gone lengthy sufficient that some websites erroneously listed the match as over after simply three units, main some to wonder if Tiafoe retired because of an harm.
That was not the case. Tiafoe returned to the court docket for the fourth set, and initially appeared reinvigorated as he resumed play. However Norrie as soon as once more fought again, taking a 4-3 lead within the set. Tiafoe once more confirmed indicators of life, taking the following two video games to make it 5-4, however Norrie battled again to win the set.
Norrie didn’t miss his alternative to ship Tiafoe packing. The Brit gained the following two video games, profitable the fourth set 7-5 and ending the match.
Tiafoe is way from the most important title to be eradicated early at Wimbledon this 12 months. The primary spherical of the occasion noticed a number of prime seeds fall, together with Coco Gauff, Alexander Zverev and Jessica Pegula. People, specifically, have struggled in 2025, following the untimely exits of Gauff, Pegula and Tiafoe, sixth-seeded Madison Keys stays the highest-ranked American nonetheless standing on the ladies’s facet. Fifth-seeded Taylor Fritz represents the highest-ranked American on the boys’s facet.
It’s a disappointing loss for Tiafoe, who made it to a minimum of the third spherical at Wimbledon in every of the previous 4 years. Whereas the loss doubtless hurts, Norrie is way from a pushover. He got here into Wimbledon ranked No. 61, however ranked as excessive as No. 18 in 2024 earlier than plummeting down the rankings. Norrie battled accidents and sickness since then, which might clarify his latest struggles.
If Norrie is again to type, he might show to be a troublesome opponent the remainder of the best way. Norrie ranked as excessive as No. 8 again in 2022, and has proven the flexibility to play tennis at an elite stage prior to now. Tuesday’s win over Tiafoe provided some hope Norrie can flip issues round after his latest struggles.