DAVIS CUP FINALS

September 14, 2022

Cameron Norrie

Team Great Britain

Press Conference

C. NORRIE/T. Fritz

2-6, 7-6, 7-5

USA - 1

Great Britain - 1

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. How was that match today?

CAMERON NORRIE: It was a great match. I obviously didn't start off the best. Taylor played really well. I don't think I came out too sharp. He took advantage of that. I was able to just hang tough in the second set, play a really, really good third set. I played on my terms.

I felt really comfortable towards the end.

Q. On the slow start, why do you think it was? Getting used to the court? A quick turnaround from the States?

CAMERON NORRIE: No, I don't think so. I think all credit to Taylor. He came out and did nothing wrong. He gave me no unforced errors. I feel like just on a couple balls, a net cord in one game, I missed it. Then another one in another game at 30-All, I missed it.

I kind of wasn't sharp enough and I probably wasn't ready enough for those. It was just a couple points and I was quickly 4-1 down, a double break. He served well.

Yeah, he did nothing wrong, and I just gave him a few too many errors. Yeah, I can't really afford to have a slow start like that. But I was able to get fortunate enough to stay in the match and play a really good tiebreak. That's a lot usually how my matches go if I'm winning in three sets.

Q. In the second set you faced I think break points in your final four service games. What did that feel like, that set, trying to get to a tiebreak?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, actually I had a practice with Andy a couple days ago. He had a lot of break points. I managed to save a lot. It was good practice, playing with him, playing with his level, especially on this surface. I was able to save a lot in the practice, then replicate that.

I feel like Taylor had quite an easy backhand pass. He missed a lob by nothing. I think after that I really changed my energy and I changed the way I was hitting the ball. I returned really well in the tiebreak.

Yeah, just came down to a couple points. I wasn't really playing my best at all. It's quite a tricky surface. Playing quite lively, hot conditions in New York, to indoor, quite slow, heavy balls. It was a little bit of getting used to.

I felt like the court favored Taylor. It was quite low-bouncing. He likes it in the strike zone. Yeah, I was just able to hang tough. It was a good finish.

Q. On the surface, Tommy said it's one of the slowest he's ever played on. Do you like it?

CAMERON NORRIE: It's very slow. I think it's a combination of the ball that they're using and the surface. I mean, I like it slow, but it's pretty dead. After a couple games, the balls get quite chewed up.

I think it's the ball they used at the French Open when it was freezing like in 2020, when they played in October, whenever they played.

Yeah, it's tough. It's interesting to watch if you're a fan. Lots of longer rallies. The match that Evo and Tommy played I thought was extremely high level from both players. Especially I think the balls are quite easy to control. It's very, very slow. It's not that bouncy. Everything is quite low, so...

Yeah, I don't know. It's a big change.

Q. I know you're used to working yourself out of tight situations. When you are a set down, fighting off break points deep in the second, if you lost the match, Britain lost the tie, how is that to deal with? Is it a very stressful experience?

CAMERON NORRIE: I think for me, I know exactly what's on the line. I know it's a must-win match for us. I think the more the pressure, the more I was backed into a corner, the better I actually played today.

But, yeah, it was a must-win match. I felt like Taylor was the better player in the second set. I was just able to get to a tiebreak and play a really tidy tiebreak.

I think he won more points than me in the second set, and I still won it. Yeah, I think it's just tennis. I managed to play the bigger points better than him today, and that was the difference.

Q. When we spoke to Dan, he mentioned the atmosphere as being great but still having something missing I guess because you don't have the music between points, change of ends because of national mourning. Did you notice that? What did it feel like for you out there compared to other Davis Cups?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, I felt like it was definitely -- obviously there's a lot of fans out there that were loving it, enjoying the tennis. They were shouting. I really enjoyed that side of things. Felt very different than an ATP match. I loved it. They definitely got behind me.

But, yeah, I agree with Dan. It did feel pretty dull at times. For the most part when we're playing the points and in between the points, they're getting loud. I felt like little bit kind of at change of ends it was pretty quiet.

I think traditionally Davis Cup can be so loud in the change of ends, people can enjoy themselves, come out. I feel like as a fan, you come out to Davis Cup to get amongst the atmosphere and to enjoy that side of things. It's a little bit different than going to Wimbledon or going to a Grand Slam or an ATP event.

I would prefer there was music, a bit more atmosphere, but I understand the situation.

Q. Obviously The Netherlands and Kazakhstan have strong No. 1 players. How much confidence do you think this performance will give you for those matches?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, for sure. Especially didn't really start too well. Like I said, it's always nice to win a match not starting your best, coming through and playing close to your top level. That was nice to do. Yeah, I can take a lot of confidence from that.

Yeah, looking forward to go watch this doubles really. Can't wait to see. I think it's going to be a great match. They're both great teams on both sides. Looking forward to it.

Q. Silly question. I saw the video of the broken racquet you sent to that guy.

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah.

Q. He bet 30 grand on you. Anything in the world you'd bet on for 30 grand?

CAMERON NORRIE: I haven't even thought about it. Good question, but... I'm a big fan of the Barstool. I'm following his account.