Norrie may now have the stamina to go all the way HILLS ARE ALIVE FOR CAMERON
CAMERON NORRIE has raced into the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time after spending lockdown running up hills in New Zealand.
And the British No3 believes he has the stamina to keep going in New York ahead of his next clash with world No99 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina today.
Norrie knocked out No9 seed Diego Schwartzman in a five- set first- round marathon here at the US Open before leaving Federico Coria in his wake.
Andy Murray had complained before the Battle of Brits in June that the Johannesburg- born star enjoyed an unfair advantage after training in sealed- off New Zealand during the summer.
He probably wasn’t wrong. Former US college star Norrie moved to the Land of the Long White Cloud with his British- born parents David and Helen as a toddler and they still live in Auckland.
“After Indian Wells [ in March] I went straight there,” said Norrie. “I actually took a full six weeks off from tennis but that helped me in a way, getting to relax and living the simple life and doing fitness.
“I ran a lot and was doing these 10k runs I was posting on Strava in competition with friends.
“It was real hilly where I was as well, so it wasn’t easy to find a quick track, but I did a 36min 45sec for 10km and a 17.20 for 5km.
“I can’t decide if I’m better at five or 10 but I’ve got some good genes, as my mum is a good runner.
“I was doing it as something different to tennis. I enjoy the afterburn after you’ve finished running – I like the endorphin rush – and a quick swim at the beach near where I live, so I had a nice little routine going in lockdown.”
But Norrie insisted: “I started to practise towards the end when there were no cases in New Zealand, so maybe I got two weeks’ advantage on some of the British guys and Andy was just nitpicking a little bit and wanting to take the pressure off for the Brits.
“But that was a good time for me in New Zealand, I felt really good being with my parents and catching up with them and making the best of a tough situation.” Norrie played as a Kiwi until 2013 before switching allegiance to the UK and becoming the No1- ranked college player at the Texas Christian University.
After turning pro in 2017 he first showed his athleticism on the big stage by beating world No23 Roberto Bautista Agut on clay on his Davis Cup debut, left.
The 25- year- old leftie showed he has a winning mentality again this week by saving two match points against Schwartzman – and all 11 break points on his serve in the third set against Coria.
He said: “It’s great to be in the third round for the first time – and it’s even better doing it when not even playing my best tennis.
“I feel physically great. My attitude has been good. I’ve played some of my best tennis at Slams.”
Next up is another clay- court specialist in Fokina, the Spaniard with Russian parents. “He’s a really flashy player,” said Norrie. “I expect him to come out firing.” As well as Grand Slam glory, London- based