ASB Classic is special to me, says Norrie
Cameron Norrie is the first player announced for next year’s ASB Classic and it’s no surprise, given how much he says the tournament means to him.
Norrie, 26, who plays under a British flag, reached the semifinals at Wimbledon last week, losing to Novak Djokovic in four sets.
His run there helped to propel him to be one of the biggest names in the sport and it’s a huge coup for Classic tournament director Nicolas Lamperin to confirm that he’ll be playing at Tennis Lane in*
January.
It’s uncommon for players when they get to Norrie’s level to play a tournament the week before the Australian Open, but Norrie says there’s a special place in his heart for the Classic.
‘‘For me, the tournament means a lot,’’ Norrie told an exclusive interview.
‘‘When I was young I’d go to watch the best players in the world there. I was always asking for their autographs, watching them play, watching them practice.
‘‘I’d try to speak to them and ask them for their towels. I think that’s the first time when I realised what I wanted to do, that I wanted to travel, to do what these guys do and be playing tournaments.’’
Norrie worked with Tennis Auckland’s James Greenhalgh as a junior, before switching to Britain in April 2013 and he remains in close contact with Greenhalgh.
Clearly, New Zealand tennis
in fans wish he was still playing as a Kiwi, but even so, Norrie always gets a great reception when he plays at the Classic, especially from those who know his background.
‘‘Definitely. I think people know me there, know I played junior tennis there and all the coaches I worked with,’’ he said.
‘‘The tennis world is very small, so everyone knows me, obviously I went to school there and a lot of my school friends are still there.
‘‘When I made the final [2019], the atmosphere was crazy, everyone was getting behind me.’’
The ASB Classic will run from January 2-14.