Into the quarter-finals of an ATP Challenger for the first time in his career, the young Brit came back from 2-0, 0-40 down in the decider to seal victory on his first match point facing the Norrie serve.

“It was a slow start from me and he’s obviously a very good player so when I wasn’t playing my best he really punished me,” Pinnington Jones said.

“Towards the end of the first I started finding my level again and by the second I felt pretty settled and played well.

“I was just thinking I’m playing against a really good tennis player so I need to be at my best. It’s the biggest match I’ve ever played but I was just trying to tell myself to enjoy it. I don’t get to do this sort of thing every day.

“At the end of the day I had no pressure out there, I’m just trying to compete as well as I can and enjoy the moment.”

It was a dream result for Pinnington Jones – who is supported by our NCAA Programme – not only beating a top 50 player for the first time, but someone who has been an inspiration in his career.

Pinnington Jones is currently studying and playing tennis at Texas Christian University in the States – the same college that Norrie attended early in his career. It was Norrie who convinced the young Brit to go to TCU – who this year won the NCAA Division I National Championships for the first time in the school’s history.

The Surrey-born tennis star is one of two TCU players into the quarter-finals this week alongside Pinnington Jones’s teammate Jacob Fearnley.

“Noz has been amazing as a mentor to me and Jake, he’s amazing,” he said. “He’s such a big advocate for college tennis, he knows how good it is. I hit with him last week and even this morning chatting in the gym, he’s just a great guy and a big mentor and inspiration for me.

“I was teammates with Jake for two years at college, we lived together this last year and he’s actually staying with me during the grass court season. He’s doing well, I’m doing well, it’s a special week for us.

“I didn’t actually know if I’d even be in the tournament to start. I was just happy that I managed to get a match and reach the main draw and then I got the doubles opportunity as well with Aidan (McHugh), which is really cool. It all just happened in a snowball effect and I’m just taking it one day at a time. It’s all new to me and I’m just trying to enjoy it.”

Pinnington Jones will play Italian Mattia Bellucci in the quarter-final after the he knocked out American fifth seed Emilio Nava 6-4, 6-4.

There are already four Brits into the men’s quarter-final – the most at a grass court ATP Challenger event since 2006, with Billy Harris still yet to play.

Harris was due to face Joao Fonseca today in the second round but rain delays meant that the match had to be pushed back.