THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 27, 2022

Cameron Norrie

Press Conference

C. NORRIE/P. Andujar

6-0, 7-6, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Cam, great start. Tell us about the match.

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, it was a tricky one obviously with the delays and having to stop and restart. Especially at the end with having a couple match points, then coming out and having to play again. It could either be five minutes or it could be three hours. I was ready for anything.

Overall pretty good match. Great first set. Pretty clean. Obviously still things I can improve, but pretty solid.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Next round you face Jaume Munar who you played once before, but were defeated on clay. Are you surprised he defeated Monteiro in straight sets? What challenges do you think he will pose to you in the second round?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, wasn't really too surprised. I mean, I think they both prefer the clay. It was a pretty 50/50 match for me.

I've played doubles with Jaume before. He volleys really well and has really good hands. He's serve-volleying quite a lot. He can be tricky when he's locked in. I lost to him last time.

I can see him being dangerous on the grass. I think it's a great match for me. I know that I'm going to go in getting some rhythm and playing a lot of longer points, which I like.

Yeah, very talented guy. I like the challenge.

Q. How conscious were you of the clouds coming in before the second rain delay? I think you said you got heckled. How desperate were you to try to get finished before that?

CAMERON NORRIE: I wasn't too aware of it until someone shouted, C'mon, Cam, get it done before the rain. Obviously trying to get it done. Then I looked over, there was a huge grey cloud. After that I think I had one more match point.

Yeah, it is what it is. It would be nice to get it done earlier, but it is what it is.

It's tough. You're there waiting another hour, you're on edge. You know just had chances to finish the match. Could be in the showers, could be eating. Just try to block that out and come out and focus.

I came out a lot better the second time than the first time I came out. I missed a few returns. I wanted to make sure I didn't do that.

Yeah, it was nice to get it done in straight sets, for sure.

Q. How conscious are you now of fans really getting behind you? You're born in South Africa, and raised in New Zealand, but there's the Scottish and Welsh interest. With every passing year British tennis fans are warming towards you. Are you conscious of that?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, I think so. I mean, especially after the match today, everyone gave me a great reception, especially more than other years. I think it shows a little bit the level that I'm playing. I've improved my tennis. I think people are maybe a bit more aware of that, as well.

Yeah, I mean, still trying to improve my game. I'll take that. People getting behind me a little bit more, supporting me a little bit more. It's great. I can try to use that to my advantage in the matches, especially here at Wimbledon.

Yeah, I think it's great.

Q. I believe this is the first time you're using the seeds' locker room here at Wimbledon. Can you tell us what that is like, to be in there with all the top guys. I'm wondering if the soap is a bit nicer, water is a bit hotter in the showers.

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, I thought last year after making the final at Queen's, I think I was seeded 28 or 26. I was, Oh, I made it to the seeded locker rooms. I went to walk in there. The security guy was like, No, no, no, you're not allowed in. It was the top 14 seeds or something last year for maybe COVID reasons. I was like, Wow. I was so looking forward to doing it.

Yeah, now I've practiced here a little bit at the club. I've seen the locker rooms before. It wasn't the biggest surprise. I mean, the locker room is incredible. Especially all the players in there, the showers and everything, unbelievable.

Q. Have you chatted much with the other guys in there? Some are different, different characters. Do you have a chat? That's an experience in itself, I would imagine.

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, it's so good. Especially they put my locker right next to Novak's. I was asking him how Centre Court was, talking to him a little bit. Mostly all his stuff was in the way of mine. I was trying to get past him, try to get to my locker.

Yeah, it's definitely a different feel coming in this year and being in that locker room, being around those players, having the chance to talk to them and see them around.

Q. You're British No. 1, No. 9 seed here. Would it be nice to be on a show court next? It felt like we were walking halfway to Kingston upon Thames today.

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, it is what it is. It would be nice to play on a show court, especially with the weather. As we saw today, I had to come off twice. Having those Centre Court and Court 1 have the roof so that you know you're guaranteed to play.

No, I was really happy to be first on, get it going, kick it off. Yeah, I would like to be on a bigger court, but I'll play on any court. Court 2 was great. I had a great support behind me today.

Q. Have you ever had to wait so long to come back and play four minutes to finish off a match? It felt like an awful long time to wait.

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, I know. It's not easy, especially thinking it could have been done. I think going to the locker room, I was like, Look, I'd much rather be in my position than his position.

It's not easy. It was kind of strange for the match to come out and play five points, six points, and the match was done. Nice to break there, not have to serve it out.

Yeah, not easy at all.

Q. Recently the ATP is considering on-court coaching. Is that something you are in favor of? Would you like to see something similar at Wimbledon?

CAMERON NORRIE: For me I really like the tradition of tennis and having it kind of one v. one without the coaching. But, I mean, you kind of see it a little bit, people coach here and there.

But for me I like it one v. one. You're out there by yourself. You have to figure it out. But I don't think it really makes that much difference. I don't care too much. I mean, I don't think it's going to change too much what someone can tell you too much in the middle of a match.

Even today, I came off twice. My coach, I was speaking to my coach. He spoke to his coach. I don't think the tactics or anything of the match changed too much.

If I was to say, I would say I like it the way it was before. If they change it, I don't think it matters to me too much.

Q. After today's convincing performance, do you feel more confident that you can reach the second week of a slam for the first time?

CAMERON NORRIE: I think I'm just trying to take it match by match. It would be nice to do that. It's a big goal of mine for this year to reach the second week for the first time.

I think coming off that match, great to get a lot of time on the match court, and it was a good matchup for me. I think I got a lot of things I can improve on in my performance. I'm more looking forward to getting back on the practice court tomorrow to work on a few things and fine-tune a few things.

But feeling great. Don't see why not, why I can't reach the second week. There's still a lot of tennis to be played, a lot of execution and big moments to get through in order to do that.