Cameron Norrie Apologizes for Hitting Spectator During Match

Cameron Norrie apologized after he accidentally struck a spectator with his racquet during his straight-set loss to Facundo Diaz Acosta at the Auckland Classic. The incident occurred while Norrie trailed 6-2, 5-3 in the match. After losing a point and facing match point, Norrie tossed his racquet behind him in frustration, inadvertently hitting a woman in the crowd. The chair umpire quickly checked on the spectator to ensure she was unharmed before issuing Norrie a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Despite the incident, the British number two avoided disqualification. Norrie immediately apologized to the spectator and later expressed regret over his actions. “I was not meaning to do that, and it’s completely not me to behave like that,” he said. “I apologized right away and I want to apologize in general. I’m not happy with how I behaved.” The woman, who remained uninjured, laughed off the incident and reassured Norrie that she was fine.

“I just said ‘so sorry, I didn’t mean to do that,’ and she said, ‘yeah, I’m completely OK,'” Cameron Norrie recalled. Despite the light-hearted exchange, Norrie acknowledged that the situation could have been much worse, pointing out that players can face disqualification if their actions accidentally harm others especially in dangerous circumstances.

Norrie’s frustration ultimately cost him the match as Diaz Acosta secured a 6-2, 6-3 win just a few points later. The incident brings to mind similar moments in tennis history such as Novak Djokovic’s 2020 US Open disqualification after hitting a line judge with a ball and other high-profile defaults due to errant strikes.