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“I’ve accepted where I am,” Cameron Norrie explains. “I’m ranked much lower than I was before, but I can still play these tournaments. I have a great team around me and, right now, I’m having the most fun I’ve had in all my career.”
Norrie is the former world No8 and British No1 yet heads to Wimbledon this year at No61 in the world, a ranking that disguises his true level but is a symptom of his three-month injury lay off between July and October last year with a forearm problem.
The assertion he’s never enjoyed his tennis more than he is doing now is surprising to hear. Did life as a top-10 player, reaching the 2022 Wimbledon semi-finals, winning titles on Tour not give more of a buzz?
“I was younger and enjoyed that as well, but I have a different perspective now,” he says in an interview with Standard Sport. Norrie, who faces a tough first-round match against Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut on Monday, turns 30 in August. “I’m still happy to be playing tennis for a living but also controlling life off court as well.”
Norrie, whose parents are both British, was born in Johannesberg, grew up in New Zealand, and moved to the UK at the age of 16. He has experienced much, but that forearm injury was a first in his career.
I’m ranked much lower than I was before, but I’m having the most fun I’ve had in all my career.
“I had three months of time off and had never had that before in my career,” he says. “It made me realise how we take for granted when we feel good and are fit.
“I went into the 2025 season feeling really good with my body. It was bit tough, though. I was a bit sick and I felt I was a little desperate for results. It wasn’t happening. Then, towards the start of the clay season, I felt good, had a good outlook on my tennis. I can’t ask for anything more going into Wimbledon right now.”
There is a sense here of a season revving up — revving up for Wimbledon but also for the hard court period that follows. “The best part of my season is still to come,” he promises.
“Wimbledon is such a special tournament — the most special one — but I really don’t feel any pressure at all. I’m not sure why, to be honest. In the past I’ve just always felt really comfortable at Wimbledon. When I played Roger [Federer] on Centre Court I did feel pressure, I’m not going to say I didn’t — a couple of double faults in my first service game. But I just feel comfortable. It’s an amazing tournament; why not enjoy it?”
The hype train from a British perspective leads to Jack Draper this year. The 23-year-old is world No4, a major seed, and chief of the home hopes this year, in what is the first Wimbledon of the post-Sir Andy Murray era.
“That is an amazing position for him to be in,” Norrie says of Draper. “To be No4 in the world heading into Wimbledon, I would like to be in that position if I were him. He’s earnt it, he deserves it. That’s amazing; I would love to be in that position. Jack has got an amazing game for grass; that’s perfect for him. If you’d told him: ‘Jack, you’re going to be No4 in the world heading into Wimbledon’. He’d have said ‘Perfect’. It’s unreal for him.”
Norrie pauses, before reflecting on his own time being front and centre as the British poster boy. “I didn’t see it like that,” he explains. “For me, I never cared about being the British No1. I was always trying to be the world No1.” He never did manage it, but No8 is quite the career peak, and Norrie has every belief his journey at SW19 this year can take him past Bautista Agut and well beyond.
“I know I’m going to compete hard; I’m a really competitive guy. I’m experienced; I have way more grass-court seasons than a lot of the other players. I’ll take that for my advantage.”
And however it all goes, there are, at the very least, some small wins he can smugly claim.
“Comparing myself to some of my friends working in London and elsewhere, I’m so lucky. I’m happy to be out on a tennis court… and not in an office. I wouldn’t be able to sit still.”
