Not every part has gone the way in which Cameron Norrie may like by way of outcomes in the course of the 2023 ATP Tour season. But all gamers, even the perfect on the planet, undergo robust stretches, and the Briton isn’t one to let just a few lean months cease him believing in his personal potential.
“I began the 12 months successful [lots of] shut matches, and that’s type of how tennis goes,” Norrie, who’s 36-23 for the 12 months, informed ATP Tennis Radio on Saturday on the Erste Financial institution Open in Vienna. “You win or lose shut ones suddenly, and I feel it simply turns into automated. I’ve had a few robust losses lately, however I feel that’s tennis and that’s simply how one can study from it and reply from it.”
Even when issues don’t at all times go to plan on the court docket, the life-style and friendships Norrie enjoys on the tennis merry-go-round are greater than sufficient to maintain him optimistic day-to-day. The World No. 18 believes that these constants are the muse for him to rediscover his greatest type.
“Fortunately I’ve a extremely good crew round me to push,” stated Norrie, who arrived in Vienna having gone 1-6 for the reason that US Open. “For me, I’m actually nonetheless actually having fun with the Tour, having fun with the journey, and going to new locations nonetheless. It’s undoubtedly been an fascinating 12 months, however I would like to remain affected person.”
Cam You Consider It, Its ‘Norrie: My Entourage’
Norrie applies his calm method to follow as a lot as he does matches. The five-time ATP Tour champion believes it helps him keep optimistic even when he’s struggling to shut out wins.
“The large query is to construct confidence and I feel there are two methods, both on the match court docket or on the follow court docket,” stated Norrie. “For those who’re working as arduous as you’ll be able to on the follow court docket, making an attempt to convey as a lot high quality as you’ll be able to, probably not being too robust on your self within the follow and actually making an attempt to remain contemporary for the matches, I feel that’s a method.
“Then clearly going out within the matches and the robust moments and going out and enjoying to win. I feel a few instances lately I used to be enjoying for the opposite man to overlook within the larger moments. That was the distinction, particularly enjoying with a few of the greatest guys on the planet. The margins are so small, and I feel the smallest distinction can typically be a giant distinction.”
Norrie made a red-hot begin to the season, and in mid-March was the proprietor of a 21-3 document. His highlights in these early months included beating Alex de Minaur, Rafael Nadal and Taylor Fritz on the United Cup, championship-match runs in Auckland and Buenos Aires, and defeating Carlos Alcaraz to assert his maiden ATP 500 crown in Rio de Janeiro.
Though he has struggled to match these highs since then, the 28-year-old Norrie fought arduous on Monday to carry off dwelling wild card Filip Misolic in Vienna and now faces a second-round check in opposition to the fifth-seeded Alexander Zverev. The German is the type of top-quality participant that Norrie relishes going through.
“I do know I’ve the extent,” stated Norrie, who will likely be chasing his eleventh victory in opposition to a Prime 10 opponent, and his fifth of this 12 months, on Wednesday night time in opposition to Zverev. “I do know I’ve obtained it in me to play with a few of the greatest guys on the planet and [I’ve had] some massive outcomes already.
“I feel it’s how I can implement my sport and play my tennis within the larger moments. I feel lately I haven’t finished that. I feel there’s clearly lots of new youthful gamers arising. They’re enjoying nicely, they’re enjoying fearlessly, and that’s one thing to study from these boys… I understand how to play, and I simply must compete as arduous as I can. I feel I’m probably the greatest opponents on the planet after I’m at my highest, so figuring out I’ve obtained that in my again pocket is at all times good.”