THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 4, 2023

Cameron Norrie

Press Conference

C. NORRIE/T. Machac

6-3, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Cam, great to get the win under your belt today. Just talk briefly about the match.

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, it was a lot of fun coming out to that court, so special, a lot of good memories there. It was really fun to come out and see the audience and just good sensations.

I played, I reckon, a really good match with some normal drops in there but a lot to learn from and take from that match. But good day and nice to get the win.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Good job today. You spoke on court about how good it was to not be stopped by the rain, and obviously last year you started at Wimbledon with a couple of rain delays in your first-round matches. What difference does that make for you? Is it kind a measure that you earned your way, having the status of starting the tournament on a show court?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, that's, for me, such a big advantage to win, first of all, and to finish my match and know exactly that I'm going to play. I looked at the weather this morning and I knew it was raining. I knew I could like plan as per usual to play.

Yeah, it's difficult. You know, there are some guys still in the first round, and I was obviously fortunate enough to play, which is a big thanks to the club. I felt, like I said already, that I earnt the right to play on that court, and I was able to hit on that court before I played, so I think that was a good advantage as well.

So, yeah, like I said, it was nice to be through in four tough sets. He made it really tricky for me. He played great, I thought.

Q. I just wondered how your knee was. You still have the tape on. Is it an issue that you're managing?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, I'm managing it. As tennis players, there's always a lot going on physically. There is always going to be something, and usually, us tennis players are always looking for something, as well (smiling).

Yeah, it's bothered me a little bit, but today it felt great. I'm managing it as best that I can and have a good team around me doing that. But, yeah, it's feeling better.

Q. Maybe with your timing, you mentioned hitting on that court earlier, you know how to deal with it. I imagine there is a still sort of a fight for practice courts when the weather's like this. How do you cope with that? Do you try and hit the same amount as you would? Do you not like having to hit indoors on hard, or would you rather not hit at all because of difference of play?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, I warmed up on indoors today, just to hit a few balls. My practice yesterday was interrupted by rain. I had done all the preparation and everything, and I felt ready to go.

Didn't bother me too much this time. Obviously it can be tough if you feel like you're not prepared, but I was prepared, ready to go, and I had a good warmup on the indoor courts. Like I said, I've been playing on that match court, so I felt good and I was out there enjoying it from the beginning.

Q. What was most pleasing with the way your game has come the last few weeks to get where you are? A lot of breakpoints you didn't take. Was that more down to him or is that something you have to sharpen up?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, it's been good preparation. Playing a few matches at Queen's and playing good players at Queen's, and then having that week in between to play a couple matches in Hurlingham. Then to come here, manage my schedule, manage the load on my body and plan everything. It's been really good preparation.

I would say I have been hitting the ball as well as I can coming in. Going out there today there was a lot of good feelings, sensations right from the beginning. I was just trying to enjoy it as much as I can. It's such a special tournament to play here every year.

On the breakpoints, I think there was a couple early on, I think I missed a second-serve return and then a forehand that I went inside in and hit the tape and went wide. I think there was a couple there that I think I can execute a bit better. But I think honestly, he served really well in the breakpoints, and some days you're going to have that.

But yeah, I think a bit of both; sharpen up a bit, and a credit to him, he came up with some unbelievable volleys and he read the net very well. I had to start playing better and had to come up with some really good passes and play a little bit more towards the lines.

Q. Is it good to come up against a player playing like that, an old-fashioned style and charging the net, serve and volley just to keep you sharp on that kind of tennis as opposed to the most standard form you play most of the year?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, it's different, especially playing on that court, it's fresh grass, you've got the roof there. He's serving well and coming up with some unbelievable volleys and enjoying himself.

I had to adapt to that and I had to change my game. It was working for him, and I felt like, I think it was in the third set, cramp in his hand, I'm not sure what happened there, so I felt like he got tight a little bit and he had to change the way he played. He was executing that as well as he could and I was returning well and he was coming up with even better volleys.

Yeah, credit to him. And obviously he was comfortable on the grass coming through quallies and he played matches, so he was feeling good. I feel like he's a big match player and I saw him play Evo in Davis Cup and he played unbelievable that day.

So I knew what I was in for and I knew he could play at that level and he had the hand skills to do what he did.