THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 25, 2022

Cameron Norrie

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Cam, how are your preparations going?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, they're going good. Obviously got a couple matches in Eastbourne, which was great for me. Obviously Cressy was too good for me that day.

If you're preparing for Wimbledon, I got a couple matches. I got yesterday to rest, the weekend to practice. I'm able to dictate my schedule now these days, so I would say it's going pretty well.

Q. You're seen as one of the top players here. Do you feel like you belong in that stage now?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, I think so. I mean, obviously this is my first time in the other locker room, so it feels good almost just being in there.

And I think last year I obviously had a decent run, making third round. Yeah, I think I'm pretty experienced on the grass, more than previous years. I feel more and more comfortable every year.

Yeah, I feel ready, and I'm looking forward to getting going.

Q. Is that locker room bigger, more pillows? What does it look like?

CAMERON NORRIE: Obviously I think it's not as busy. There's less people. You have obviously all the top players there, so it feels a little bit more special. The entrance is a little bit more special.

Yeah, it's pretty cool.

Q. At Queen's you were saying one of the features of your increased status in the game is hitting partners, being able to practice with the big names, not feeling any anxiety about asking the big players. Who have you been hitting with?

CAMERON NORRIE: Honestly, I played Eastbourne last week, yeah, I had yesterday off. Today I practiced with Johnny Millman. I always have good practices with him. Usually my coach organizes the practices. That's his job. I guess he's having to ask more of the top guys, which is great.

On the grass, haven't really hit with any of the top players yet. But in the past, it's been great to play off their level.

Q. Is there anyone you'd particularly like to get the chance to practice with on grass?

CAMERON NORRIE: I think Djokovic. I've never practiced with him. Obviously he's decent on the surface, defending champion. Maybe one day.

Q. It's your first time here as British No. 1. That always comes with a lot of expectation from the public. How does that feel for you?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, I think I've been asked that like 10 times already (smiling).

Yeah, it's great. It's exactly what I want to be, where I want to be. I think there's still 11 or 12 guys ahead of me that I want to try and slowly knock off.

Yeah, it's exactly where I want to be, being here, being well-prepared for Wimbledon, ready to go out and enjoy it and play my game.

Yeah, still a lot of things I want to improve on, which is exciting. But, yeah, I'll take that.

Q. Does that bother you in terms of attention Andy still gets the number one attention or do you prefer to go under the radar?

CAMERON NORRIE: I think obviously with everything Andy's done in his career, being a champion here, I think it's fair enough.

Yeah, I'm not really thinking about that too much. Just trying to get wins on the court. If that's the way it is, that's the way it is. If I'm winning matches, I'm happy. If I'm losing matches, I'm not happy. I'm not really bothered about that too much.

Q. You've been so consistent at all levels, but how much is getting past the third round at a Grand Slam a big target?

CAMERON NORRIE: It's a big goal for me. I'd like to tick that box obviously. Played a third round a few times now. Obviously helps with the seeding and having a slightly better draw.

But, no, I mean, it'd be nice to do that, tick that box. Obviously a long way to go, a lot of tennis to be played. I think if I keep doing more the same, yeah, I think I've got a lot of improvement and a lot of upside in my game still.

Yeah, looking forward to the challenge of that. There's plenty of good guys in the draw, so it's not going to be easy at all.

Q. Your dad is going to be at your games this year. What gets him more excited or nervous: You going deep in a tournament or the Rangers getting to the European Finals?

CAMERON NORRIE: I think he can enjoy the Rangers matches a little bit more. He's sitting down with a beer, he gets to relax and enjoy it. I think with watching me, he doesn't get the chance to do it too often. I think maybe a bit more special than watching Rangers, I'm guessing. I'll have to ask him later on.

Yeah, great to have him over the summer, and my mum obviously watching me. It's been a while since I've seen them. Very special when they get the chance to enjoy everything.

Q. (Another question regarding the Rangers.)

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, yeah. He kept telling me how many people were flying over. He kept raps on the numbers he couldn't believe how committed the fans were. I was like, Why don't you go? You should go.

He's like, Oh, I don't know. He's looking at the ticket prices and everything. He's like, I don't know if I can get a ticket. He ended up watching it at a local bar.

Yeah, he was obviously not too happy about the final result.

Q. Did you see it yourself?

CAMERON NORRIE: I couldn't watch it, no. Tough ending.

Q. What are your thoughts about the action and the message of Wimbledon regarding the Russian and Belarusian players? Also the tour's response regarding the ranking points?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, I think this far into it, it's pretty crazy with everything going on. Obviously it's unfortunate now that everyone has no points. There's nothing on the line. Obviously still extremely special tournament to be playing. I would still like to have had points, but that's the way it is.

I'm not treating it like anything else. I mean, yeah, it's a little bit unfortunate, but, yeah, there's a lot of things going on. Nothing really that someone like myself, I can do too much about.

Yeah, I'm just excited to be playing Wimbledon. I'm glad I can still compete, which is great.

Q. And Wimbledon's action?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, I think it was tough. It was a tough one, you know. Morally they did the right thing. I like that they were pretty onto it with that. But I do feel for a couple players, especially Daniil and Andrey, who have a good chance to win the tournament. So I really feel for those guys who are so committed to tennis and so professional. Obviously they have good chances to win, so I feel for them.

I think at the end of the day with everything going on with the war, I don't mind that from Wimbledon. Yeah, I think it's just a tough situation in general. It's not easy for everyone.

Q. What is your reaction to the draw yesterday? What do you know about your opponent? I also wondered, are you one of those players that kind of looks down the line of who could be your opponents as you progress?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, I saw the draw. Obviously Andujar, I would say grass is not his favorite surface, but I think he's made third round a couple times. He returns very well. He can definitely play well on the surface.

But I look at the first couple matches. I mean, there's no point for me looking too far down the line. There's so many matchups that could happen. You don't even know who is going to come through the section.

I look at my section, I'm not planning my way all the way to the final. Maybe the first couple matches. Try to take it match by match.

Q. You mentioned a big goal of yours is to reach the second week of a slam. Just wondering whether you changed anything about how you prepare for slams in terms of trying to reach that goal, something you tweaked to make it happen?

CAMERON NORRIE: I mean, not really changed anything. I'm trying to compete as hard as I can every week, try to just improve my game and my level week in, week out, try and play my game in the bigger moments in any tournament. I'm going to compete as hard as I can regardless of who I play.

I think, like I said earlier, just doing more of the same. I think with playing quite a few third rounds now, I can use that to my advantage and use the experience. I'm not a guy who's just come out of college and it was my first time playing Wimbledon. I played a couple Wimbledons now, a couple big matches on Centre Court, so I can use all that to my advantage.

I think just try to be as calm as possible in those matches and try to play my best level in those bigger matches.

Q. Congrats on being the No. 1 Brit for this Championships. What do you think of the ATP's decision to introduce in-match coaching for the remainder of 2022? Do you think this is going to close the gap between the top- and lower-ranked players or could this increase the gap due to the resources the top players have?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, that's a good question.

I mean, I really like tennis, how there's two guys on the court, you're out there trying to figure it out for yourself. I think it's a good thing about tennis. It makes it interesting. It keeps it pretty separate from the other sports. I think it's one of the only sports that you're out there and you don't have coaching from your coach or anyone telling you what to do. I think I really like that fact of it.

I think it's a shame they're taking it away. At the end of the day I don't think it makes too much difference. I think, I mean, you see a couple times people saying a couple things anyway. It's a bit borderline.

I don't know. I think we'll see how it goes. I think it's a trial. I don't know if it's actually a cemented rule. Yeah, it will be interesting to see.

For me, I like it just two guys out there battling. Let the better guy win. Whoever figures it out, whoever's got the tactics is going to come out on top.

I don't think, like, you speak to a coach before the match, you're talking tactics, and I don't think there's anything really obvious during the match he's going to say too much that's going to change too much. I don't know if it's going to make too much difference anyway.

Yeah, it will be interesting to see how it goes. It will be a good trial.