Cameron Norrie certainly didn’t see this question coming.
Fresh off his third-round win Friday against Italy’s Mattia Bellucci at Wimbledon, the 29-year-old appeared taken aback in his press conference when a media member asked if he was involved with fellow Brit Emma Raducanu, whose love life has garnered much attention at the tournament.
“Apart from everyone here loving tennis, some of the gossip has been about who Emma Raducanu is dating. Can I ask if you’re dating her?” a reporter asked Norrie, who replied, “Sorry?”
When the reporter repeated the question, Norrie — chasing his first Grand Slam win — responded, “I’m not, no. You can ask her. I don’t know.”
Norrie has been in a long-term relationship with girlfriend Louise Jacobi since 2019, according to reports.
Rumors about Raducanu’s personal life have been swirling since June, when the 2021 U.S. Open champ cheered on world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz during his semi-final HSBC Championships win over Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut at Queen’s Club. The Spaniard went on to defeat Czechia’s Jiri Lehecka in the final.
“Emma and Carlos’ friendship was the talk of Queens — people think there is something going on between them because they have such a spark,” a source previously told The Sun.
“… They seem very happy and relaxed with each other.”
Raducanu, set to team up with Alcaraz in the mixed doubles event at the U.S. Open later this summer, laughed over the mounting buzz in an interview with BBC Sport.
“I’m glad the internet is having fun and we’re providing some entertainment for everyone,” she said last month.
When asked again about the rumors in a Wimbledon press conference last week, Raducanu said of Alcaraz, 22, “We’re just good friends.”
Raducanu reached the third round of this year’s tournament, falling to top-seed Aryna Sabalenka 7-6 (8), 6-4.
Both Norrie and Alcaraz play in the Round of 16 on Sunday.
Norrie faces Chile’s Nicolás Jarry, while Alcaraz, seeking a Wimbledon three-peat, takes on Andrey Rublev of Russia.