ROLAND GARROS

May 31, 2023

Cameron Norrie

Press Conference

C. NORRIE/L. Pouille

6-1, 6-3, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: We are ready to start questions for Cam.

Q. That first set I felt couldn't be more different from how you came out against Benoit. What was the secret? 24 minutes very straightforward, and you seemed to be hitting the ball really well.

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, I think I left off where I finished with Benoit, and it was a big kind of change to come out a little bit differently, and I was definitely finding a bit more width on my forehand.

Yeah, I think it helped a little bit being a bit slower in the shade today. Yeah, I came out firing, like you said, and nice to get a straight-sets win like that under my belt.

I definitely enjoyed the atmosphere a bit more than with Benoit, but a good day.

Q. Cam, in the third set there was an incident where the ball bounced twice, and you managed to retrieve it. Did you realize it bounced twice in that situation?

CAMERON NORRIE: No. When it happened, I didn't. I saw the ball in the end. It was spinning back, so I was, like, maybe there's a chance I got it. Yeah, then I just watched it now just before coming here, and I think it looks like it did bounce twice.

But yeah, for me there was a bit of doubt there. I think it's up to the umpire to call that, and she was right there in front of that and it was right there in front of her and close to her. When I was going ahead, I didn't know, so I continued the point. But I think it's on her to make those decisions.

The other day I had one against me, and then looks like today I had one for me. It's a bit disappointing how it goes like that, but it is what it is. I just continue playing, and yeah.

Q. Lucas was in here, and he said he would like to see the use of technology, you know, the umpire I guess could maybe look at a replay of that. Would you like that to cut out those sort of mistakes?

CAMERON NORRIE: For sure. I think that would be great. There's been so many different situations over my career where there's been things happening, and I think it definitely can use it to our advantage. We have it there. We have the technology to do it. I don't know why we're not doing it in all aspects.

Sometimes tournaments where they have, it seems, Hawkeye for the TV and then for the match they don't use it. It cost me a call in Madrid. And yeah, I think we should be using it.

We all make mistakes. The umpires make mistakes. I think it's -- yeah, he's right. It was just one of those calls. It was a tough call in the moment. From the replay, for me it looks like she got it wrong.

But yeah, I don't see any reason why not.

Q. Like you say, we've had a bunch of these decisions come up in the last few days. Do you think it might be partly because it's such a charged atmosphere out there that maybe it kind of affects the officials as well?

CAMERON NORRIE: I don't know what it is. I think it's just they're doing their best job they can. Like I said, they're human beings. They're going to make mistakes. Just like us, we make mistakes. We miss balls.

I agree, we should be using the technology. But it is what it is. For her, like I said -- or for any umpire the other day, they don't really have any consequences. They get something wrong, and nothing really happens.

I know for sure they're doing the best job that they can, so I respect them and respect their job a lot. But I agree that we definitely could be using the video to the advantage.

Q. Cam, what's it like to become public enemy No. 1 in France after beating two of their players the last two matches? How much do you think Davis Cup and also in your college days has helped you get over the line these last two matches?

CAMERON NORRIE: It's a great atmosphere. Like I said the other day, it's the matches you want to be playing. It's really tough with the crowd chanting and definitely getting behind and changing the momentum of the match. They're a tough crowd, but yeah, I enjoy it.

It's pretty similar to Davis Cup and some of the ties that I've been playing, so I definitely could use that experience in those moments.

And I love it. Obviously I'd prefer with it being on my side, but it's going to happen that way. It just so happened that I played two guys from France back-to-back. It was definitely a bit more low stress today, and I was able to keep them pretty hushed for the majority of the match.

I was really pleased with my performance, and there was a lot of good changes that I made in my level today, so I was really happy with it.

Q. We know a few months ago you were playing tennis with rock star Jon Bon Jovi. Can you chat with us about that experience. Do you take any inspiration from him in terms of what he has achieved in his career? And in terms of your own tennis, it seems like that might have an impact on you in the future? Could we start seeing lights-out rock 'n' roll tennis, or in the words of Bon Jovi, are you going to "keep the faith" with how you've been playing so far?

CAMERON NORRIE: Good question. Yeah, it was so cool to play with him. He is really liking tennis more and more, and I think he's going to make an appearance at Wimbledon and come watch. So it's cool to see him enjoying it. To meet him and to hang out with him was great.

I'm not really, like, the biggest of his fans. Obviously respect his music and I know a lot of his songs. Yeah, cool to see him getting involved in tennis and liking it. He's playing almost every day, so it's good to see.

Yeah, I'll hopefully see him hitting some balls over Wimbledon time. Yeah, I'm sure he'll be enjoying Wimbledon. I think he has a couple of shows planned in British summertime as well. It's cool to see him liking tennis.

Q. (Off microphone.)

CAMERON NORRIE: I don't know. We'll see. We'll see.

Q. You have some strapping on your left knee. Is there a problem there? Is there an issue there?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah. In the first round with Benoit, I hit a smash at the back of the court early in the second set and I felt it a little bit.

Yeah, I think as tennis players we're dealing with a few niggles here and there, and I was able to deal with it today. I've been working hard with my team to make sure I'm getting my body as ready as possible.

Yeah, I was able to play with no problem today, so it was a good sign. Yeah, I was really happy with how I moved and reacted and returned and made a lot of first balls. It was a good day. Yeah, definitely didn't hinder my performance at all.

Q. Cam, you could play Lorenzo Musetti next. You played him obviously a few weeks ago. What can you take from that match? What maybe do you need to do differently?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, I was playing at such a high level with him when I was playing him, and I lost a bit of concentration and a bit of focus, and my level dropped a lot, but I was able to figure out ways to win points.

I think I have a pretty decent game to play him, but I'm going to have to play really, really well. His best surface is clay, and he's had a lot of really tough matches.

I think, one, he took Djoko to five here, so he can play well. He still has to win his match obviously. But, yeah, I think it's a really tough draw and really going to have to play my best with him to have a chance. He beat me in the last one, so good guy, good third round. Yeah, I'm expecting a tough match.

Q. How are you particularly feeling the ball this year? Some players are saying it's too heavy.

CAMERON NORRIE: I'm not really thinking about the ball too much. I think over the last few clay tournaments there's some quick balls, there's some -- all the conditions are different, but for me, yeah, I'm not fussy at all with the ball.

I'll make changes on my tension based on the conditions, the ball, the time of day I play. But, yeah, even in my match today at the end I think it was the last game with those balls, it was getting so big and so tough for me, anyway, to finish the point.

So I'm aware of that, and I think it can help me in some situations. But, yeah, it's definitely a bit slower than in previous years, I think.