By Ryan Price
BBC commentator Pat Cash was quick to rush to the defence of British tennis star Cameron Norrie after post-match controversy shrouded his round of 16 win over Chilean Nicolas Jarry at Wimbledon on Sunday. The five-set thriller ended in a fiery on-court row between both players, with Jarry refusing to meet Norrie at the net to shake hands. The world number 61 walked over to his opponent’s chair where they performed the shake, but not without a few words being exchanged between the pair. Jarry had become increasingly frustrated with Norrie’s serving routine during the latter stages of the match, moaning to umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore about the length of time the Brit was taking on his second serve. The Chilean was particularly wound up by Norrie’s habit of bouncing the ball repeatedly, then stopping to bounce it again – a pattern he claimed was throwing off his own concentration. He could be heard telling the official: “What is the rule there? The problem is, is it normal to do that when it affects the other player? You have to intervene there or I have to suck it. That’s the real issue, it doesn’t matter the reason.” Asderaki-Moore responded: “I am going to step in if I think there is a reason to step in,” before Jarry added: “I don’t want to force you into anything. I just want to do what the rules say. And if there is not a rule then tell me and I cannot do anything about it.” During his on-court interview, the Johannesburg-born left-hander revealed the details of his heated exchange with Jarry. “He said I was a little bit vocal and I think that’s my energy,” Norrie explained. “I was pulling [energy] from my team and then I just said, ‘Man, you competed so well and hung in there so well and it was an amazing, competitive match.’ I love it, I loved the Chilean fans too, and you guys definitely pulled me through the match there at the end.” Now, 1987 Wimbledon champion, Pat Cash, has validated Norrie’s penchant for bouncing a tennis ball. The Mirror reports that Cash weighed in on the controversy during post-match analysis on BBC Sport on Sunday night. The Aussie tennis legend used 24-time Grand Slam winner, Novak Djokovic, as an example as to why the 2025 quarter-finalist’s serving habit should not be questioned. “You can bounce the ball 35 times if you want between first and second serve,” said Cash. “That is the anomaly. There are a few weird things in tennis. “If you are late coming in for a first serve, you have been running all over the place, and you are tired, all you have to do is get to the line and throw the ball and catch it, and then you can bounce the ball 20 or 30 times.” He continued: “But I don’t think Cam does it that extreme. Novak used to bounce the ball 20 or 30 times. He is regrouping himself and that’s the anomaly of the rule. I don’t agree with quite a few of the silly rules of tennis that they have. But Norrie is within his rights to do so.” The British number three will now face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday for a place in this year’s semi-finals, and Norrie admits he will be the underdog going into the contest. “I think it only gets tougher from now,” said the 29-year-old. “I’ve played a lot of tough matches already. Now it only gets tougher. “There’s still lots of matches to be played and lots of matches to be won. I’m going to play point-for-point as always, and I’m really happy with how I pulled up after the (Jarry) match. “My body feels good, and I’m in a good place,” Norrie added. “I’ve been hitting the ball well. I’m happy to be sure, but (still) a long way away.”