AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 21, 2026

Cameron Norrie

Press Conference

C. NORRIE/E. Nava

6-1, 7-6, 4-6, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Cam, there was a bit of delay there due to the rain, but you managed to stay focused and close it out. How does it feel?

CAMERON NORRIE: It feels really good. I think I was really pleased with the level of the match, especially considering the conditions. It was not easy to play. Very windy. He was a tough guy to play against. So really pleased to get through and to be in the third round again here.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What was going through your mind when you had to go off court?

CAMERON NORRIE: That was tough because one of the ends was really tough to play because it was a little bit against the wind. I started the tiebreak on the toughest side. I was just like let me try get to three points here on the tougher side. Then when I did that, I was like, okay, I think I'm good now.

Then 4-3 up, then started raining, as everyone saw. I was just laughing to myself. Actually felt so relaxed when I came out afterwards. It was I think quite tough for the fans. There was a lot of atmosphere building, and it was completely packed. It felt like everyone was on top of the court yelling. It was a shame that the match couldn't have finished there with all the atmosphere building.

But managed to come back, serve well, and tough out one rally. That was enough.

Q. There were a lot of British fans out there. It was really rocking. How much did that help?

CAMERON NORRIE: It was so much fun. I think those matches are the best. I think I could see that they had been in for a long day of drinking. They were all waiting around watching. That court was so much fun, and everyone was enjoying themselves.

Actually, there was so much support for me that you have to give a lot of credit to Emilio to really fight back. I think every time they started chanting, he would serve well or play well. So I have to give a lot of credit to Emilio for fighting. It can't be easy to play against that crowd.

But some of the chants were really, really good. I was laughing. Felt really nice to come back to that court and everyone was chanting my name. Like I said, served well at the end.

Q. What was your favorite chant?

CAMERON NORRIE: I think the clap your hands one. Everyone was pretty quick to follow on that, too. It was a good one.

Q. You've obviously played college tennis, but is this the craziest atmosphere you've had? Were there specific people in the crowd you were looking to to fire you up?

CAMERON NORRIE: I would say one of the best atmospheres. I would say the best atmosphere at the Australian Open. Maybe top three of my career. I think it's because that court was just, like -- the fans on that balcony felt on top of the court and so close.

Yeah, I think there was a bar upstairs on the thing, so I think that definitely helped (smiling). I think I could look anywhere and someone was getting fired up for me. I was pulling from all parts of the court. That can really help you in those matches. It was so fun.

But it was not an easy match to play. Like I said, the wind was moving. He was playing good. He would miss a few balls sometimes. So I had to stay really mentally on it.

But I think a lot of respect to him for playing that level and forcing me to play that level to win the match.

Q. Is it a case of experience is quite useful in that situation at the end with the break?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, I'd had it a few times before. Actually it happened one time here. I felt comfortable. But there's nothing much you can do. You have to be ready to play the next point. I was thinking a lot about where I was going to hit the first serve on the first point coming back. I told myself i need to also be ready if the ball comes back to play the point. So I just wanted to stay locked in and try to be the one dictating the point.

I think typically I'm kind of a guy who wants to kind of let the other guy miss, and wait for him to miss. I went after it on the serve. The last rally was not easy. The ball was swirling around for both. He made an unforced error at the end. So I was pleased with how I played some of those points in the tiebreak.

Q. Zverev next. How excited are you to get a shot at him?

CAMERON NORRIE: So excited. He's one of the most consistent players on the tour. I think he loves playing me. Every time we play we have such high-level matches. He always beats me. The last maybe four or five times. We always have close sets, close matches. I played him fourth round here, lost 7-6 in the fifth before. But he's one of the best competitors out there. I'm excited. I'm feeling good. I'm feeling my game good. I felt better with my rhythm or my serve as the match went on, considering how tricky it was with the wind.

I haven't really thought about that match too much. But I'm excited to play against him. I think it's nice being the underdog again. To go and play him, nothing to lose. I want to take it to him, just rest up, get to hopefully enjoy another amazing atmosphere like I did today. Maybe I'll request Court 7 on that one. It will be a good atmosphere.

Q. You have played him tight and had that amazing match here. Do you consider that a tough matchup in the way that you did with Medvedev, for example? Do you feel your game matches are better against him even if you haven't been able to beat him?

CAMERON NORRIE: I think I can trouble him, for sure. I feel every time he's hitting the forehand so well, I played maybe my best level at Wimbledon that one year in the third round, I think it was third or fourth round. He was so good. Really high level.

I'm going to have to really play complete match and play well for four hours I think to have a chance with him. I really can take a lot of confidence from the first three weeks of the year, how I'm managing my service games, how I'm putting a lot of returns in court. I feel like I'm there every single point. I know that's more kind of my trademark, to be there every point. I think I've been doing a really good job with that. I think that's the reason why I won today.

My tennis has been there. I've been feeling the ball great. I think mentally I'm feeling in a good place.

Q. 14 times now that you've been the last man standing for the Brits in the past five years. Is that something you're aware of, something that you embrace?

CAMERON NORRIE: Not something I'm aware of. It would be nice to have more of us through. It was unfortunate Arthur couldn't get through today. For me, it was amazing to see him progressing well, where he deserves playing at that level. His tennis is unbelievable.

Yeah, hopefully we can have Jack back, too. Looking like he'll play Davis Cup. Not really thinking about that stuff too much. Yeah, I guess it's a positive thing I'm winning matches.

Q. Are there any particular conditions that would favor you more against Zverev?

CAMERON NORRIE: I think I'll probably be playing on a bigger court. But I would like to play on as hot as it can be. Would be nice. I think the forecast on Saturday, Sunday, something like that is 38, 39. I think it's Friday. Haven't looked at it.

No, it's going to be good conditions to play, like it is always in Australia. I have to be ready.

Q. What do you remember about that match you had against Zverev from two years ago? Will you watch clips of that? What do you think you can take from that?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, I'll definitely watch that one. I think, I mean, I used the dropshot unreal that day. I was playing so free, enjoying the match so much, coming forward a lot. I was troubling him a lot and mixing it up a lot.

I think I'm going to have to sprinkle some of that in, for sure. I think maybe in that fifth set tiebreak I used maybe too much and missed a couple shots I would not usually go for. I think I'll just be a bit tougher in that tiebreak. He was playing the extra ball. The balls I remember got quite big in that tiebreak.

I'll for sure watch that match. I think he'll remember that match. It was so tough. But I'm excited to have another crack at him. I'm going to remember that, if I'm in the fifth set tiebreak again, I'll try to be more aggressive and be the one going for it, maybe not to bail out on a dropshot in the tiebreak.

We'll see. But I'm just really pleased to be through and looking forward to that match, looking forward to playing on a bigger court here.

Q. Head-to-head is not so great, how do you turn that into a positive? Do you think about it? Extra motivation?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, I think I beat him in juniors once (smiling). Maybe when we first started playing some pro tournaments. But yeah, since then he's got me every single time. Always been quite a similar match a tiebreak, a break. He'll know that.

I think it's hugely in his favor. I haven't actually watched too much of his matches, but as always he's doing everything very well. It's a match I feel quite comfortable with, especially in the rally I'm going to get rhythm.

I'm going to have to really to push him and make him uncomfortable, like I said, for four hours to have a chance with him because he's a very complete player. He looks like he's playing well, so...

I'm looking forward to it.