CINCH CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 19, 2023

Cameron Norrie

Queens Club

Press Conference

C. NORRIE/M. Kecmanovic

6-4, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Cam.

Q. Talk us through the first match on grass obviously since Wimbledon last year. You hit the ball pretty well.

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, I was hitting the ball well straight after French Open and just felt good from the get-go, and I have had a good couple of weeks' preparation, a lot of time in the gym, and a lot of time on the practice court, which has been good.

Just feels good to be back in London and training, and the weather's been great. I think the courts, it's usually really slippery out there on the first day, and I think the sun's helped a lot to keep the courts, you can really trust the foot, and I was able to play well, serve well, return well.

Yeah, won some of the longer points. I think he made it difficult for me in the end, and I think I was just enjoying it, embracing it. The crowd was great to get behind me, and it was good to get through that second set, for sure.

Q. Four match points gone away, and finally got over the line with the fifth. A bit of nerves? Not worrying too much about it? Just "that's tennis" sometimes?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, I had a few chances at the 5-4 game. I had Love-30. Then he played well, and then I had a match point again at 6-5. It was kind of, I think I hit a backhand on the back of the line, and he ended up putting a forehand line winner.

I got the crowd going I think when I was 6-2, and then he got it back to 6-5. I was, oh, I shouldn't have done that. Just stay focused, keep my head down. I actually went wide on the serve and he picked it, and I managed to dig out a backhand to win it.

So it was, yeah, a little bit of nerves. He actually played those points really well. Yeah, it's never easy to get your first win on the grass, especially on a court like that. I think it served me that I have obviously played on that court a few times, and I think it was his first time out there.

Q. You mentioned being able to trust the foot a bit more. How much is that a concern 10 days away from a Grand Slam, courts are pretty green, even on the practice courts maybe, not wanting to overexert yourself, go over an ankle or something?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, on grass, you know, the movement's obviously a little bit more different than the rest of the surfaces, and you have to take a few more smaller steps after, and then you see some guys sliding a little bit into the dropshots. I don't think I'm there just yet.

But yeah, I think just running out to the forehand, you've got to make sure that you stay low and really use the legs. Like I said, trust the foot. If you are not there trusting it, you're going to maybe miss the ball. You almost have to run through a few balls, and I was able to do that and turn a couple points around, I think a little bit better than he did, and obviously being more used to that court.

Q. After what you achieved at Wimbledon last year, do you come into the grass season here with a different level of expectation, more confidence you can go even further here and at Wimbledon?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah. Obviously had a really good block, so I'm feeling as well as I can and prepared as well as I can. I had, for me, a really disappointing clay season. I had some big goals to do well there, so I was really disappointed to come away from the French and I had a couple of days to reflect.

Obviously just trying to put that behind me. Yeah, just I was hitting the ball so well, even the first days on the grass, and I think it was just good memories from last year ending Wimbledon. I don't see why not I couldn't go deep in these tournaments. I just need to keep my head down and keep playing well.

I think it just shows if I'm not bringing that same energy point in, point out, I don't really stand a chance with these guys. You know, a couple of times on the clay season, I dropped my energy and it showed, and the other guys were all over me.

So on a surface like grass where you have to keep your concentration high, I think it can serve me well, definitely if I'm in the right frame of mind. So I have to be on it point for point.

Q. I was going to ask what you'd learnt from Paris, because you were pretty analytical after your loss. After a few days of reflection, is there anything more to it than what you just said?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah. It just took me too long to get into that match with Musetti. It was disappointing, and there was a few things that I could have done differently. Obviously I was a bit colder and I could have had some racquets in earlier, a few minor things like that.

At the end of the day, for me I think it was my mindset and I could have come out there and come out with a bit more energy and not get so down on myself.

I think it's a big goal of mine to enjoy the summer. I can't really complain. You know, the weather's been good and I get to spend some more time in the UK, and I really enjoy it in the summer here and the long days.

It's been a good start. We've got Peniston winning. Then I got to win, as well, and Dan's out there now. It's a great start. The women are doing well. Obviously had a great week in Nottingham last week. It's a good start for us.

Q. I notice you're playing doubles with Andy Murray. How did that come about? Who's going to make the calls on court? Who will have the authority?

CAMERON NORRIE: I just asked him, saying, Do you want to play doubles at Queen's? He said, Yeah, let's do it. (Smiling.)

It was pretty simple. Yeah, I don't know. We'll see. I have never played with him before. I think we will leave it to whoever is serving, who is going to call the serves. I'm just going to enjoy it and get another match on the grass and hopefully just pick his brains on a few things. Obviously he's got a lot of confidence at the moment, a good guy to play with.

Q. Have you played doubles much in your career? Is this something you're going to perhaps do more of at Grand Slams and major tournaments?

CAMERON NORRIE: No, I will play here and there. I think it's nice to get another match on a new surface, and I always play here at Queen's. Yeah, just to feel the court a little bit and to work on serve and return a bit more, and I get to play with Andy, so I can't complain.

Q. Is it the plan to play Eastbourne next week?

CAMERON NORRIE: No.

Q. Regardless of here, or...

CAMERON NORRIE: I would say pretty unlikely to play. I want it make sure I'm feeling good for Wimbledon, and I've got a couple of matches in Hurlingham as well. So I'm going to do that and stay in London and prepare as well as I can for Wimbledon.

Yeah, last year I went to Eastbourne and unfortunately lost in the quarters, but I was able to come back and freshen up, and a couple matches was enough.

Ideally go deep here and then get to rest a little bit and prepare as well as can. Already gone one further than last year here, so it's good news.