CINCH CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 16, 2021

Cameron Norrie

Queens Club

Press Conference

C. NORRIE/A. Karatsev

7-5, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. That was a very impressive performance. He seemed to kind of struggle a little bit midway through the second set with the fall, but you were in total control before that, to be honest. How did you think you played today? How significant do you think that fall was in the second set for him?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, thank you. Yeah, it was obviously a tricky match. I played very well in the first set and the start of the second set to get to that point.

Obviously, yeah, that was a very big point for him to break back. I managed to hold on and hold my focus that game.

I think he's okay. I asked him how he's doing. He said he's fine. So that's great news for him. I think it just shook his concentration a little bit and his confidence maybe a little bit, landing on the serve and moving slightly to the forehand.

Yeah, I was really pleased with how I played, especially on the big points, and managed to return very well there. Definitely a big improvement from my first-round match. Yeah, there was a lot of loose points in that first-round match. So it was good to play a very clean match. Maybe just lost concentration a little bit at times but managed to bring it back quickly and found some really good rhythm on my serve. Good day for me.

Q. I think you managed to pick up the momentum quickly from your clay court season. Do you feel the same? What do you think the key has been to that?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, it's obviously very tricky to come quickly from the clay to the grass, especially I lost on Saturday, so it was a very quick turnaround, played a very physical match. I think, like I said, every time I play with Rafa, I find a lot of rhythm and I feel like I'm hitting the ball well. So I think a little bit a combination of both.

Just kind of embracing the grass. Obviously a lot of people are not comfortable with the movement and how low the ball is bouncing, so I was just really trying to embrace it as much as I could and try to enjoy it as much as I can, especially being close to home for me. So it was nice just to get a match on the grass and enjoy it out there.

Q. How conscious are you trying to play a different way, trying to move forward a bit and adapt your game to the grass?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, obviously it was pretty tough today to move forward. Aslan was pretty aggressive from both sides, and he didn't really chip too many or open the racquet face too much.

I came forward when I could and defended when I could and blocked returns when I could, and I think I just did everything pretty decent and found some good rhythm on my serve as well.

Yeah, against someone like that, it's tough to come forward, but I think a couple times I did come forward I think I could have done a little bit more with the approach, so it's definitely some things to work on there. But for the most part, when I was in the rally I stayed pretty physical and managed to absorb his pace of shot quite well at times. Yeah, it's not easy against a guy who hits the ball like that.

Q. I just want to ask two questions. First, if Jack Draper wins this afternoon you'll be playing him in the quarterfinals. What have you made of him this week at Queen's? What do you make of him as a player?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, I think Jack's had a phenomenal win on Monday against Sinner. That's absolutely huge. I have practiced with him a lot, practiced with him last week, I knew he was playing well and has potential.

Actually played him in the Battle of the Brits at the end of last year, so I know the guy can play. I'm just really happy for him to show that level on Monday. I think he's going to have a very tough match today and definitely capable of winning if he can play like he did the other day.

It's going to be exciting to watch. I'm really pleased that also he got a wildcard into Wimbledon. He can show everyone what he's got there, as well, especially he can play well on the grass. He made final at the Wimbledon juniors, and obviously he did well on Monday.

I'm happy for him, and I wish him all the best of luck today. I'm looking forward to watching the match. Going to be tricky for both guys.

Q. I'm writing a piece about Rafa and at Wimbledon. You played him three times this year. What's he like to face across the net? You have had impressive, solid performances against him. What's it like when you're facing the mighty Spaniard?

CAMERON NORRIE: Just, I mean, the guy's definitely one of the best competitors I have ever played. Mentally he loses focus and brings it back very quickly. I think that's what he's known for.

I think what's interesting when I have played him is I think I have broken him four or five times in the three times I have played him, and every single time that I have broken him he's broken me directly, immediately after that. I think that just says a lot about him and just the way he competes. He loses a break and he's honestly straight back on you.

I think with his tennis, his forehand is just crazy. Especially, for me, I thought before I played him, I thought I had a pretty good game to play him with my backhand kind of getting cross, but I was hitting it right in the corner, and he was still managing to run around and find the forehand and still had me on the ropes.

I mean, incredible player and really cool that I got to play against him, especially at two slams and obviously one of his favorite slams. And Barcelona, probably one of his favorite tournaments outside of French, maybe aside from Monte-Carlo.