AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 22, 2024

Cameron Norrie

Press Conference

A. ZVEREV/C. Norrie

7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: First of all, Cam, I know this is a tough one for you today. What do you think made the difference at the end?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, I think it was a good match. I really enjoyed it, again. I think, yeah, he was just a bit more solid than me in the end and served a bit better down the stretch.

Yeah, it was a good match.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. How do you kind of emotionally react to a match like that where you played so well and got so close, but then obviously makes it I guess more painful to lose as well?

CAMERON NORRIE: I would rather do that rather than not play as well, but I thought it was a high-level match from both sides. I thought he served unbelievably well. Yeah, I fought hard right until the end. Yeah, it was a tricky match.

I think he did a really good job. He scrapped really hard. I had a few really small chances in that fifth set. Maybe if I could have held that first game, and maybe that 5-4 game, a couple of looks in that game, but there was nothing in the match.

I think that the difference was the tiebreak. The balls were huge in the end, and he was able to get a better hit on the ball. I misexecuted a couple of balls, and he served really well, like I said. Yeah, nothing in it, and credit to him, and I thinking he played a more complete match than me.

I dropped in stages throughout the match, and he basically stayed the same throughout the whole match. It was a high-level match.

Q. Can we sort of say this is a continuation of the kind of more aggressive approach you brought to Rudd? If so, is that why you're enjoying those matches so much?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, I think it was good fun. I really took it to Sascha today, and I think a lot of times I tried to come forward. I think he's probably got maybe the best backhand pass on tour, or he was hitting it so well today. I just kept going, kept asking the question there. He kept coming up with some really good shots. I was able to surprise him a few times with the dropshot.

But, look, I was really happy with the way I served throughout the whole match, and I was feeling really physically good. Wasn't tired at all.

Yeah, I definitely really enjoyed the match, and it was good fun out there playing at that level for sure.

Q. Given the way you played with the aggression, the dropshots, coming to the net, I'm curious if you have learned anything about yourself or proven anything to yourself with I guess the way you've been able to play and beat and compete with the best?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, I think that's exactly right. I think Sascha is probably one of the best players in the world at the moment, and playing close with him and deep in -- well, somewhat deep in a Grand Slam, losing in five sets, a few points in it, I think it's exactly where I want to be. I can take a lot of confidence from that.

Yeah, it's disappointing, but I think it's nice to know I'm just looking for ways to evolve my game. Yeah, I was toe-to-toe with him, and I think it just shows. I got absolutely chopped by him at the end in Vienna in the last year, and I managed to take a completely different approach. I had a good rest, and I was feeling fresh coming in, which is great. It was a big difference.

I think noticeable difference even for him, I would say.

Q. Just to pick up on what you said about the balls in the tiebreak. How different did it feel? Was it one specific shot of a point there where you really felt the difference there?

CAMERON NORRIE: Not really specific shot. I'm not sure if I did the math correctly, but I think there was a game for new balls, but with a ten-point tiebreak that they don't give the new balls.

Yeah, it is what it is, and he was able to be a bit more -- serve a bit better than me, and his (indiscernible) shot was a bit bigger than mine. I think it showed. Yeah, he was great for him to be a bit more aggressive and a bit more physical than I was in that tiebreak. I think that was the difference.

He executed everything, and I didn't, but I was right there. Yeah, it's the way it was, and credit to him.

Q. Just on your style again, can you keep developing this with Stephen. I think the way you're playing now to get even better. Come Wimbledon time, if you play this way, it's something to aim for?

CAMERON NORRIE: I think so. Just, like I said, I've been enjoying that, and I think it's just a lot of learning when you are doing those plays and using the dropshot or coming forward. Just learning from each experience and kind of picking up where guys are going to be hitting the next ball. I think I used it here and there.

I don't think it was a huge game style change. I think I was playing really solid. I was playing my base game. I used it a little bit towards with the wind and just a little bit tactically. I felt like I sprinkled it in a little bit, but not too much.

Q. What are your ambitions for the season? Do you have a ranking in mind? Is that altered by the way you've played here so far?

CAMERON NORRIE: I think just I can take a lot of confidence from this whole trip. I think if you look at all the matches I played, I had some where I was not feeling well, some I was feeling really good. I beat Demon 6 in the third to start the year and went out and won that match. Played a really great match in Auckland, and then had to withdraw, a couple of matches where I wasn't feeling great, and I found a way to win. Then a really good match against Casper. I think a lot of positives to take.

I think even more positives to take from today's performance and coming so close. I think really just looking forward to the next tournaments. If you look at the schedule I have, it's unbelievable. Playing in South America next. I love going there. So I'm looking forward to that.

I think just keep evolving my game and keep trying to improve. I would say it's a decent start to the year, but keep going and try to stay as fresh as I can. Like I said, at the end of last year and keep learning and keep going.

Q. The protesters in the third set, how aware were you of what was going on there? Were you happy with the security around the incident?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, obviously we're both aware. We had to stop the match for a few moments. I didn't feel threatened or anything. It is what it is. Those things happen nowadays. I think there were a couple of fans that actually helped out. But yeah, I don't think anyone felt threatened or anything.

Yeah, it was all right. I managed to hold my serve that game, so yeah.

Q. You achieved a lot in your career. Won Indian Wells, you've beaten Alcaraz in a final, No. 10 in the world. Would you agree that maybe this is actually the best we've seen from you?

CAMERON NORRIE: I think there's still lots to come. I'm still 28 years old. I think you look at the longevity of the other players playing now, I think they're getting better. I just want to keep learning and keep pushing and keep improving.

I learned a lot last year and the years before. I know I've got the top 10 level in me. I want to just keep kind of taking steps towards that, and yeah, I'm having fun playing.

It was great to see especially in a slam that I've not really done well at all or felt really comfortable, so I think this is probably one of the most comfortable I've felt on the tennis court and on the surface and playing in Australia.

The atmosphere was great, and the all the matches were a lot of fun. Everyone was getting behind me. So yeah, keep going.

Q. Learning new things in your training, is it important do you think to try and do that to sort of push yourself, take yourself out of your comfort zone? Does it keep things mentally fresh, keep things exciting?

CAMERON NORRIE: I think so. I think you're always trying to look for ways to improve. And I think if you look at the best players in the world, they're always changing things and looking for ways to win points and just add things to their game. I'm always looking to do that in the offseason.

I think there's still a lot of work to do and a lot of upside. Yeah, I want to keep try improving for sure.

Q. Have you done anything different in between matches? I don't know, maybe go out somewhere else, like coffees or sightseeing, from a mental sense?

CAMERON NORRIE: I've done everything the same. I was going to the same restaurant on the day before I played and keeping the same kind of routine and just chilling with my girlfriend. I've actually done not much, to be honest, since I got here, other than being around the tennis.

And I've been watching all the matches. It's been a great Aussie Open to stay up and watch the matches. It's nice to be watching the matches in Australia rather than being back in Europe: Ah, disappointed not being there still. It was a good tourney, and I didn't change much at all.