THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 29, 2022

Cameron Norrie

Press Conference

C. NORRIE/J. Munar

6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 6-0, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Cam, battle out there. Give us your thoughts.

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, it was a battle (smiling).

Yeah, I think it took me a while to settle into the match. I played the best tennis at the end. It was a match I didn't start very well. Wasn't really comfortable. Wasn't really hitting the ball well, wasn't moving well. For me to turn it around and finish the way I did was great for me.

Nice to find that level, especially starting not great.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You sort of said on Monday you wanted longer points. You obviously did get that. At the end of it are you thinking you could have done with a few shorter points there?

CAMERON NORRIE: Exactly. I think Jaume made it extremely difficult for me. He was putting the ball in awkward situations. I was picking the wrong moments to come forward. He defends unbelievably well. He's got incredible hands, especially on the forehand side. He was kind of chipping the forehand deep and putting it in low, tough points, and was passing really good on the backhand side.

Yeah, I wanted long points. I don't think I was hitting the ball where I wanted to, as accurate as I wanted to. I managed to feel good and play my way into the match. I made it really physical the fourth and the fifth. I think he was struggling a little bit with an injury or maybe cramps. I don't know what it was.

Yeah, I was just feeling really good and really happy to find that level at the end.

Q. Maybe he was struggling with cramps. But especially the fourth, it seemed like a switch went in your head, your level moved up.

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, I think the biggest part was the movement. I think in the first set, I was a bit tentative, a bit nervous. I think it showed in my movement. I was actually hitting the ball well. I think I only won that first set because I was pretty clutch. I was 1-1 on break points. He was 0-3.

I think he was the better player in the first three sets. Did well to stick with it. Not often you start a match not playing great, not moving well. Then to move through the gears, play some of my best grass court tennis I've played in that fourth set. Start of that fifth, I went on a run there.

That means a lot to me that I can find that on a day I didn't start great. I think that's the beauty of best-of-five.

Q. You've never been beyond the third round of a Grand Slam, but you have the opportunity to get there now. How important is it for you to take that step? Do you have expectations of yourself?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, I've been saying it all of this year, I wanted to make the second week for the first time at a slam. Yeah, I think it helps with the seeding and it helps I'm playing well in other events.

I think that was the perfect example today. Best-of-five set match. I don't see why not, I can play better best-of-five. I think I used my physicality to my advantage in that one today.

I think more of the same. Another match under my belt on the grass. Try to use that to my advantage. I'm feeling a bit more comfortable, moving a lot better.

Especially playing on Court 1 was a lot of fun, really enjoyed that. Incredible atmosphere. Had my parents there, all my friends. So that was very cool.

I think it's pretty sick, another opportunity to play a third-round match here at Wimbledon. Still got a lot of things I would like to work on tomorrow and improve. But I feel like my level is improving.

Q. Is your preparation for a game any different here in terms of travel, training? Have you altered your routine at all?

CAMERON NORRIE: No, I haven't. Every day giving it everything, taking it day by day, trying to improve on the court, off the court. I've got a team around me which is pushing me. They all have the same goals as me, which is excellent. They're just as committed as me.

I think I'm not really altering it. I think it helps that I came in here fresh. I lost early at Queen's. Ideally it would be nice to get a few more matches there. Then Cressy played too good for me in the quarters of Eastbourne. I was able to come here early, dictate my practice schedule, was able to get in the gym and get some good practice in before this and feel really fresh.

I think, yeah, everything happens for a reason. Yeah, it was another good match under the belt.

Q. Obviously on Monday you were on Court 2. Today Court 1. How much do you enjoy that big stage?

CAMERON NORRIE: It's great. Especially the atmosphere, the acoustics of the ball. The court itself, such a cool court, great atmosphere today. Especially with the roof, that just makes it seem great. Even hitting the ball, it's coming off well. As a player, you can feel that atmosphere, that environment. Then I think it was huge.

Woke up this morning, it was absolutely pouring. I know I'm playing. You have the roof which is an option. It's incredible that Wimbledon has managed to do that on two courts. I knew that. Obviously in the last match I came off twice.

Knowing for sure that I know I'm playing second on and having to prepare, it's not like it's raining, I could be on later, I start playing, I could come off because of the rain.

I was definitely appreciative from the club to put me on Court 1 today. I definitely made the most of it and enjoyed it out there, especially the atmosphere was great.

Q. How much do you want a deep run to really make a name for yourself?

CAMERON NORRIE: Not really to make a name for myself. I want to do it for me and my team, to prove that I can do it at slams, not just at other tournaments. It's Wimbledon. I think just want to do well here and play my best tennis.

This is the biggest tournament of the year for me, being at home, in front of all the fans. For me, I just want to do it to enjoy that moment and keep going for the next one.

I'm not trying to make a name for myself. If that happens, great. For me, I'm more focused on the tennis and the level and trying to execute in big points and play my game.

Q. You may or may not be looking to make a name for yourself, but Emma has gone out, Dan is out, Andy's two sets down. You could be the focus of a lot of eyes. Are you ready for that? Have you spoken to anyone about what that means, like Andy?

CAMERON NORRIE: I wouldn't count Andy out now. I think he has a great game. Yeah, I would never count him out. We'll see how it goes.

Yeah, it's obviously unfortunate that some of them came unstuck today. Yeah, I mean, I'm just going to keep focusing on myself and keep taking care of everything. Yeah, really pleased to be through today.

Q. There will be a lot of fans that want a player to fly a flag for Britain. Are you ready to be that person for the nation?

CAMERON NORRIE: For sure. I think you see there were six Brits through the first round for the first time in a while. A lot of opportunities. A lot of younger guys coming through. I think that's great.

Yeah, if I'm the last Brit standing, it is what it is. I'm going to go and treat it like any other match, go out and compete as hard as I can. I'm playing one of my favorite tournaments, if not my favorite tournament of the year. Go out and enjoy that. Another opportunity to embrace the pressure, embrace the challenge of trying to make the second week.

Q. Do you believe you can win Wimbledon this year?

CAMERON NORRIE: That's a good question. I mean, I think I'm going to have to do things a lot better, execute. I'm feeling good physically. It will be a big shock to me. But I'm still in the tournament. I'm still going. Long way to go. I'm not really focusing on that. Just taking it match by match.

Yeah, I'm feeling good and looking forward to the next one. I'm in it to win it.

Q. You wouldn't have played much on grass growing up. Do you feel comfortable on it now?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, it just took a couple years to get used to the movement and fully embracing it. I'm starting to feel more and more comfortable. I think the conditions have slowed down quite a lot actually. It suits me. You can play long points.

Yeah, I would not say it's my favorite, but I'm definitely getting more and more comfortable. I think being lefty helps. Having my flat backhand definitely helps on it as well.

Q. What is your favorite? Hard?

CAMERON NORRIE: Hard court, yeah.

Q. How big an opportunity do you feel you have in front of you? In your quarter Ruud has gone out, Hurkacz has gone out. Highest seed in your section. How big an opportunity do you feel it is and how much expectation do you put on yourself?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, I mean, it's (indiscernible) to have expectation. If you tell me all that stuff, I'll take that. I'll take being the highest seed left. I mean, it's absolutely nothing at the end of the day. It means I'm doing well this year, I won a lot of matches, so I can use that to my advantage and take the confidence from that.

Yeah, it's great. Yeah, I'm going to take it match by match. I'll definitely take having a better draw rather than not. I think I've had some tough ones in the past. Yeah, I'll take that.

Everyone is great so I'm going to have to be at the top of my game to have a chance with these boys.

Q. What do you know about your next opponent?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, Stevie is extremely comfortable on the grass. He's played very well here at Wimbledon historically. I think it's his favorite surface. Obviously big serve and a really good forehand.

I saw the score, I didn't see any of the match today with Ryan. Obviously he's confident, he's playing well. Yeah, like I said, I'm going to have to go out and execute and improve from today to have a chance with him.

Q. Have you got a history against him?

CAMERON NORRIE: I think I've never played him, no.

Q. Hit with him at all?

CAMERON NORRIE: I practiced with him a few times, yeah. College battle. He was a legend at college, USC. I think he was No. 1. He went on some insane streak in college. Old college battle.