THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 1, 2022

Cameron Norrie

Press Conference

C. NORRIE/S. Johnson

6-4, 6-1, 6-0

THE MODERATOR: Cam, you've made it to the second week. How are you feeling?

CAMERON NORRIE: Very good. Very nice to do that for the first time here. Yeah, I played really well today and enjoyed it. Played pretty freely and settled into the match nicely.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Did you hear the chant of 'Cam Norrie, oi, oi, oi'?

CAMERON NORRIE: Honestly, it was pretty funny. I don't know why I was thinking, every time they said it, I broke serve. It's a good sign. A little bit superstitious. Pretty funny and good atmosphere.

Yeah, I really enjoyed the match thoroughly. Definitely added to the noise of the match and atmosphere out there on Centre Court.

Q. When you're in that groove, comfortable in the scoreline, does it feel like it's just flowing with ease?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, I think it was tricky. He was serving well to start the match. I had a few chances early on. I missed a couple second-serve returns. I wasn't coming into the backhand as much as I would like. Managed to play a good game to break to win the set. I think I calmed down a little bit and was moving more freely.

I think it was maybe the first time this tournament that I was at change of ends, I was just kind of in the moment, kind of sitting there enjoying it, kind of just thinking in the present, just kind of a little bit more at peace rather than in the other matches I was a bit thinking what I'm doing next, thinking about the situation too much.

Today I was very, very relaxed. Maybe one of the bigger matches in my career obviously to make the second week for the first time. I had a great opportunity today and I managed to play the level that I wanted to.

Q. It was your first game on Centre Court. Anything unusual? What did you make of it? What kind of role do you think having the backing of that kind of crowd can do?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yes, obviously such a special court. As you walk down the clubhouse, you see all the history and everything. I think luckily I played on it a couple times, played Roger there last year and then Nishikori a couple years ago. I think that helped. I was more relaxed and it wasn't really too intimidating. Unbelievable court. It's really special to play out there. I enjoyed it.

What was the other part of the question?

Q. What kind of bearing, having the crowd behind you...

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, especially when you've got the momentum and everything is kind of going your way, it can help. Yeah, definitely take that.

On the flip side of that, if I was down in the score, they can bring me through it. Trying to use it to my advantage as much as I can. It was good fun out there.

Q. You've made no secret that you really wanted to get over the third-round hump. How much did having been in that situation before help?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, I think I wanted to do it. Obviously losing four or five times already in the third round, having some tougher draws, I was able to learn from that experience.

Honestly, I wasn't too nervous out there today. Before that I would have signed for that, playing Stevie Johnson in the third round. I think the matchup was good. He's obviously really tricky. I think obviously I practice with Evo a lot, played Dimitrov in Queen's. I'm quite used to playing those kind of game styles.

It can be difficult at times and make you uncomfortable, but I think I need to give credit to Evo, playing with him a lot, practicing with him a lot. I think it's allowed me to be a little bit more comfortable when he's knifing that slice really low, looking for that forehand.

I was able to execute really, really well in the second and third set.

Q. When you mentioned your family out there on court, have they suddenly dashed out to join you this week? Who came across to see you?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, my parents came over. Their first one was in Rome, so they've been over for a while. They've done a decent trip over. They've stayed throughout. This is their last tournament. I'm prolonging their trip longer and longer. It's been good.

Also my sister moved over to London earlier this year. She's living and working here. It's great to have everyone here watching, supporting.

Especially to make the second week for the first time, it's great to have them all here watching and have them here live.

Q. You are a global family. Do you feel that London is a bit more home in weeks like this?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, I mean, I've lived in London after college, before college. I'm very rarely in New Zealand. I've barely been in the last five years obviously with tennis.

I really feel good in London. I'm practicing here. They have the same sports. Love the same stuff. I have just a good feel here.

Good for the tennis. It's a good base. Really enjoy spending time here. Got like a good group of friends now in London. Like practicing at NTC, helping all the younger Brits out as well.

Q. You had an impressive season last year in the ATP Tour events. Grand Slams, the third rounds. Is there a sense when you look at the draw that this is the chance you've been waiting for now?

CAMERON NORRIE: I mean, it is what it is. The draw is still good players in it. Yeah, nice to make the second week.

I think I was a little bit more fortunate, obviously playing well, and the ATP is getting my ranking up, getting better seedings, therefore, getting a better draw. Being able to dictate my schedule has been a lot easier rather than just being ranked 50 or 40, playing everything and hoping you're picking up points everywhere.

Been lucky and fortunate to be in the position that I am with that. For me, there's no easy guys out there. Tommy won really comfortably today. I think grass is probably his best surface maybe from recent form. He seems really locked in, and he really likes the grass. It's going to be really tough regardless if the draw is open or not.

At the end of the day I'll take it again. Playing Tommy in the fourth round is going to be a battle, for sure. I always have a battle with him.

I practice with him. Good friend of mine. We've actually practiced maybe two or three times already here at Wimbledon. We know each other's game very well. Good friends off the court.

But, yeah, we're going to both leave that aside and it's going to be a battle, for sure.

Q. Talk us through who else was in there, the impact of your parents. You referred to them as your squad.

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, mainly my squad, more my team, my coach, my fitness trainer, and my physio. Had the same guys basically the whole time since I've turned pro. We've had the chance to progress. Yeah, it's been great.

Also having my parents here more just to hang out with and spend time with, have my sister around, has been great. There was just a lot of friends in the area. One woman that I lived with when I'm practicing in Texas, when I went to TCU, Linda, she always comes to a couple tournaments. Cool to have her around.

Yeah, just a couple friends, a couple of guys from university who by chance are in London, as well. They definitely came to the right one.

Q. Would you say your fitness is your biggest strength, your lungs and fitness?

CAMERON NORRIE: My lungs (smiling)?

Q. That seems to be your superhuman skill.

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, I think before the match, I went into it, I was thinking I'm going to try to get past the two-hour mark and make it a competitive match. I was able to get it done in 1 hour 50. I'll obviously take that.

I think the longer the points go, the longer the match goes, it favors me, and I don't mind it. Obviously not trying to make it go long. I think just the way that I play, the way that my game style is, I think it suits me that I go longer.

I'm really looking to dictate the play, especially on the grass courts, take it to these guys.

Q. About the 'oi, oi, oi' that's the first time I heard that. Did you almost sense the love of the crowd more so than perhaps in the past?

CAMERON NORRIE: It's been great to see them reacting and definitely added to the atmosphere of the match. Like I said, every time they said that, I broke serve. A little bit of a superstition.

But, no, it was good fun out there. Yeah, definitely added to it.

Q. You seem a bit of a reluctant or uncomfortable superstar. Would that be right?

CAMERON NORRIE: What was the question?

Q. You seem a slightly reluctant or uncomfortable superstar. The way you were treated out there was like a superstar. Are you enjoying it or feeling it's all a bit weird?

CAMERON NORRIE: No, I mean, it's a lot of fun. Being the British No. 1, playing on Centre Court, being in the spotlight, enjoying it and playing to that level that I did today, was a lot of fun. I embraced it and really enjoyed it.

Q. Are you hoping there will be more of the same chant for the next round?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, I think I just want people to enjoy themselves and get behind me as much as they can. Yeah, I guess if I keep breaking serve, I'll keep taking that, for sure.

Q. Have your parents got a flight booked home or is it after Wimbledon?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, I'm not sure actually. I think they're just planning to head back after this. I'm sure with the way my parents are, they've booked something. Yeah, hopefully they'll have to change it.

Q. Given how supportive the crowd was today and how great the experience was, are you surprised and a bit disappointed for Katie and Liam, that neither of them are on Centre Court tomorrow?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, haven't actually looked at the schedule at all. I can't really comment on that. Obviously Liam had an unbelievable win to fight back against Diego. He's looking fitter and playing some really good tennis.

Yeah, I haven't looked at the schedule. I know Katie was on Centre Court the other day. I'm sure she enjoyed that. She had one of the biggest wins of her career. Great that they're doing well. I have no idea about the other matches on Centre, so I can't really comment. Hopefully they go well tomorrow and always got a chance to be on a bigger court in the next one.