THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 29, 2026

Cameron Norrie

Press Conference

M. ZHENG/C. Norrie

6-7, 6-2, 6-7, 6-3, 7-6

CAMERON NORRIE: Hey, guys.

THE MODERATOR: Cam, tough one out there. Give us your thoughts on that match.

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, it's a tough one. I played point for point throughout the whole match. Yeah, he played better than me at the end. Really aggressive. I was really surprised with his level. So well done to him.

But yeah, if I could have had a few more matches kind of leading in, I think I can win this match. There were so many small moments in the match that he did really well to go on his side. So, yeah, credit to him.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You've had a couple weeks or months. Are you full capability at the moment? Are you happy with how your body is? Is that part of the problem?

CAMERON NORRIE: No, it's not at all. I'm feeling better with my rib. No issue there. Yeah, I was hitting the ball really well. Some tough, tough weeks, for sure. Played one proper match, French Open and Geneva, was a bit able to finish.

Yeah, like I said, I would like to have had more matches before Wimbledon. But, yeah, I competed as hard as I could today. It was nothing physical. He was better than me in the bigger moments at the end.

I thought if I could get through this match, I could take so much confidence from that. Yeah, just really tough to leave Wimbledon this early, first round for me in a few years. Yeah, it's tough being Monday and I'm out.

Q. Is that where the lack of matches hurts you in the big moments? You said he played better. You would prefer to have more in your legs?

CAMERON NORRIE: I'd feel quite good with a few more matches. This is how we planned it. I was unfortunate to go out early in Queen's.

I felt ready to prepare. I hit so many balls on the grass. We played some practice matches in Hurlingham. No, I was impressive in both the first and third set tiebreak, I was better than him there. There was a few moments within the second and the fourth set that I felt I was looking good. Suddenly I was down a break out of nowhere.

But yeah, I was happy with my attitude. I fought really hard. I felt the desire, the hunger, which is important.

Yeah, it's just tough to fight every point, and you come out on the losing side. But that's sport.

I have to give a lot of credit to Michael. He dug deep. There were some moments there, especially 4-3 in the fifth, I felt I was going to win it there. There were some chances. He won a couple long rallies, which I usually win those in my career. Well done to him.

Q. Is there any routine that you have for sort of moving on from a loss like this? So many hours, fifth-set tiebreak. I imagine this is kind of heartbreaking. How do you get over it?

CAMERON NORRIE: That's a good question. It's not easy (smiling).

I had a toasted sandwich and a smoothy. So far, two toasted sandwiches.

It's tough, but it's a nice feeling that I did leave everything out there. I tried every single point, and then gave the best attitude, got myself ready for point for point. That's a nice feeling.

It always stinks to lose, especially at Wimbledon, my favorite tournament in the world, a tournament I always play so well at. I played well today.

I think it just takes probably a week or so for this kind of loss to get over. There's no hiding from it. Yeah, it stinks. Especially tomorrow, everyone is still in the tournament, and you're out. You're just wanting to play. So it's tough.

Q. I think you said you were surprised by his level. Could you expand on that?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, I knew he was a really tough player. He's one of the best college players, if not the best college player, at the moment. He quallied for both slams.

I knew he was a good player. I was quite surprised how he handled my game. My backhand to his forehand, he actually quite liked that, which is on the grass probably my most effective play. He was giving me nothing there, which is weird for me. Usually I'm getting so many free points on that exchange.

I had to adapt in the match. He was adapting well. He was changing his serve. I was not so much surprised, more impressed with his level. Give him a lot of credit.

Especially the way he won the fifth set, maybe hit seven winners in the fifth-set tiebreaker is pretty good. He deserved it in the end in that tiebreak.

Q. I know at the French you spoke about feeling overprepared. You wanted to be smart with your schedule. Now maybe this feels the opposite end of the spectrum. Do you feel there's a sweet spot in the middle to how you lead up to a Grand Slam?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, always you try to get the fine line. You try to get the right formula to do well. But yeah, nothing really to say for that.

Just I want to, yeah, dwell on this loss, learn from it, talk with my team. There's so many tournaments to be played. I want to just rest, and I want to get ready for the rest of the year. I want to just fight for every point like I did today.

I felt a few matches already this year, obviously the injury and stuff, it's tough to be perfect, but just I want to sit down with my team, talk, yeah, just attack the second half of the year. It's a lot of fun playing these tournaments, so it's good.

Q. Did you feel maybe an extra sense of responsibility out there, given you were the last seeded Brit in the draw?

CAMERON NORRIE: I didn't feel. I didn't know Jack pulled out, which is tough. I just found out now. But not really. I just wanted to beat Michael today. I was preparing for that. Wanted to get ready for every single point, fight as hard as I could, and bring my best attitude, like I always have my whole career.

I was not thinking about any of that stuff. I was excited this morning to play Wimbledon. It was a nice experience. Tough one, but I'm looking forward to next year already.

Q. It felt like in the fifth set the crowd was really important, you were getting involved with the crowd. Is there a sense of pressure being a Brit playing at home? Was that crowd support always a positive force?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, I like it. Was a lot of support for him, which is quite cool as well. The atmosphere was growing. There was different guys I was feeding energy off throughout the match, which was nice.

But no, I think it's nice to have that crowd for you. I also do like it with the crowd against as well. Playing in Paris is difficult. But it's exactly why you want to be playing these matches, for the atmosphere, if it's for you, against you. It's great.

It was actually maybe 60/40 in my favor for the crowd. There were a lot of tough moments that I got through. They helped me a lot. It was really nice. Had some friends in the crowd, too. Good fun. Not really added pressure, but I always feel calm in these grounds, which I like.

Q. Your friends in the crowd, are they the same friends who organized your upcoming stag?

CAMERON NORRIE: There's one. Yeah, one guy was.

Q. What is your schedule for the rest of the summer?

CAMERON NORRIE: I'll play in Los Cabos, then everything else. I'll start in Los Cabos.