THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 8, 2022

Cameron Norrie

Press Conference

N. DJOKOVIC/C. Norrie

2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Cam, tough one. Give us your thoughts.

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, it was tough. Obviously big situation for me. Yeah, it was a tough, tough match. Obviously started pretty well. He was a little bit nervous from what I could see. He managed to draw up his arrows and really play solid the last three sets and he made it difficult for me.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Where do you think the match changed in Novak's favor?

CAMERON NORRIE: I think in that second set. I missed a couple -- didn't miss. I think I missed one approach shot that I should have won, then he picked the right side on a short one. I missed a couple balls there.

For the majority of the match was looking in my favor. Just a little bit of execution, maybe lack of focus in that moment, then he raised his game. I think he served unbelievably well after that. It was tough for me to get into his service games.

I was missing a couple key returns when I needed to in the games that I had chances. I think that was the difference. He just locked it down.

So I think it was a tough, tough lack of concentration in that moment. I mean, it wasn't just down to that. There was a lot of other stuff. But it was looking good until then.

Q. How do you rate that first set that you played, given the occasion, expectation?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, I think I played okay. I just made a lot of returns. I hit the spots well on my serve. Like I said, it was the biggest match of my career. I think it was a 6 out of 10 set. I think I was running a lot, put a lot of balls in the court.

Like I said, I felt like he was a bit nervous. He wasn't serving as well as I've seen him serve. I was winning all the rallies and winning all the longer points. It was a solid set.

I knew that I had to keep raising the level to have a chance. A semifinal, my first Grand Slam, when you take the set 6-2, you take that.

Yeah, it was a good start, but it wasn't enough.

Q. I know it's not the result you wanted. That moment when you broke in the very first game of the match, you turned around to your box, the atmosphere in there was really big. That will probably live in your memory for a long time, won't it?

CAMERON NORRIE: It was a great atmosphere, especially right from the start I managed to break then. The crowd was obviously way behind me. I think I, for the most part, used it to my advantage. I think a couple times there at the end it looked like he was getting a bit distracted with the crowd.

Yeah, it was a great atmosphere, and I really enjoyed the atmosphere, enjoyed the match. Obviously not the result that I wanted. A little bit disappointing in terms of the way I executed in a few parts.

But, yeah, it was nice to start with a break, to start with good energy. I started hitting the ball the way that I left off against Goffin, so it was a good start.

Q. Was there enough in that first set in particular, must have been plenty there, to give you belief that you could get to Wimbledon semifinals again or maybe even one day win one?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, I think it was a good experience obviously to play him. Especially the level he brings here at Wimbledon. Yeah, it gives me a lot of confidence.

But, I mean, it doesn't mean anything. It's nice to do it and experience it. Loved it, loved every moment of it. I think I need to keep working hard and still got a lot of things I can improve on my game.

Yeah, great experience. I can take a lot of confidence from it. To reach the semis, reach the Friday of the second week, is pretty sick. But I think for me, I want to go more and I want to do more of that and go one further and try to win a slam.

A lot of firsts for me this week, a lot of good experiences. Hopefully I can take them in my stride. I think looking, comparing to Novak, I think it was just the level of execution from him today was better than me. His level of focus, the way he handled his service games was better than me. That was the difference.

A lot of good learning for me.

Q. I know that's not the way you wanted to finish, but what do you think you can be most proud of these two weeks? Is there any one particular moment that stands out?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, I think a lot of stuff to be proud of. Coming in here pretty highly seeded, a lot of expectations from everyone around the country - and from myself especially.

Coming in here and kind of getting through the draw in the fashion that I did, handling the occasions of playing Centre Court, playing Court 1, playing guys that I'm actually favorite to beat, being in situations in fourth rounds, quarters, where I'm actually going in favored, it's not easy. It's always nice going into those matches being underdog and you've got nothing to lose.

For me, I went out there and there was a lot of pressure on me to win. I had good chances to win. So for me to come out and serve out sets, serve out matches, and have the nerve to do that, to have the level of focus, just overall it was a lot of fun doing that.

Everyone got behind me. The atmosphere was incredible. Especially serving that game out against Goffin to make my first semifinal was pretty crazy.

Yeah, I think it's all happened very quickly. I'm going to have a lot of time to reflect on everything. But it's tough right now to think about it too much. Obviously just getting knocked out.

Yeah, a lot of good learning for me.

Q. You began the fortnight on Court No. 2 somewhere down there at Southfields tube station. Do you think the way you played, the manner in which you've played in the last fortnight, proves you belong on show courts, on Centre Court, center stage from here on in?

CAMERON NORRIE: For me, I don't care what court I'm on. All week it was fine playing on Court 2, playing on Court 1, playing on Centre Court. I'll take whatever court. For me, I'm just trying to focus on what I can do and execute, what I can bring each day.

I'm really happy with the way I executed this week. I think I didn't do as well of that today. But whatever court they put me on I'm happy with.

Q. What have you learned from the process of going so deep into a slam that maybe has surprised you, that you can now use as a template to take forward to the US Open and as you go forward?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, I think just being in these moments, being deep in these tournaments, keep improving as the tournament goes on.

I had that match with Munar and I got through that. I think from then on I was hitting the ball better and better. Yeah, I think it's a long couple weeks. You have to be patient with yourself. There's obviously a day in between. It was a long tournament for me.

I think just being around Wimbledon this long and dealing with it all is all just good experiences for me and a lot of learning. But I don't think there's anything in particular. Yeah, it was a lot of fun all together.

Q. I was on the hill talking to fans. I think every single one of them said they were incredibly proud of you, the way you behaved. They said you should also be proud of yourself. How does it feel hearing that and what has their support meant?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, I think everyone's got behind me, especially in the crowd. Everyone is chanting things, shouting out things. I think it's probably the first time in this country, here and around Wimbledon, that I think people have gotten to know me a little bit more and the way I play, the way I operate on the court.

I think it's given a lot of people something to cheer about. They love that. It's been a pretty crazy fortnight for me.

It's been, yeah, like I said, a lot of fun. I'm glad that I'm giving them something to cheer about and something to talk about and something to get excited about.

Q. What are you planning to do to unwind after today? Heather Watson spoke about watching 'Love Island'. Anything you're watching or do you have any plans?

CAMERON NORRIE: No, I'm actually not sure. I'm going to have to figure out what I'm going to do in terms of my schedule. I'm entered in Atlanta, which is pretty soon. I don't know really what my plans are. I think I'm going to have a couple days' break and speak with my team and see.

I'm not really too sure. I have no plans. One of my best friends from New Zealand, he said at the beginning of the tournament if I made semifinals he's going to fly out. He flew for two days now. He got here today. I'm going to probably hang out with him for a couple days. Haven't seen him in a couple years. Good effort from him. He stuck to his word, so...

Catch up with him and then see with my team where I'll play next.

Q. Are you disappointed at all that your performance this fortnight doesn't get the 720 ranking points it deserves because I think that would have put you up to No. 8? I know it's not all about the ranking, but that is a key point that's missing this year.

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, it would be nice to have that. Yeah, but for me, nothing really changes. It would be nice to have that and nice to have that blanket of being back well inside the top 10, reaching a new career high, ticking the box, doing that.

I mean, I think, what, Novak dropped to 7 in the world. I think it's disappointing for me. But for me it changes absolutely nothing. I'm still playing all the tournaments.

I'm still ranked - I don't even know what I'm going to be ranked after that - 11, 10 I think. Changes nothing. I'm still going to be seeded highly and still going to be in every tournament.

What's really tough is the players just outside the top hundred and guys like Liam Broady who made the third round, and Alastair Gray, who would now be in slam quallies.

For me it doesn't change too much. But I think towards the back there, just outside top hundred, just outside top 200, it's tough for some players that did well here, won a couple matches.

But, yeah, the club is still very generous with the prize money. They still upped that. Can't complain about that at all.