Norrie holds head high following Queen's exit

By Abi Curran at The Queen's Club

British No.2 Cameron Norrie held his head high following a narrow first-round defeat in the LTA’s cinch Championships at The Queen’s Club.

The 28-year-old was inches from a spot in the second round, but fell 6-7(6) 6-3 7-6(9) to Canadian Milos Raonic.

The 2021 Queen’s runner-up Norrie pounced when it mattered in the opening set to take former Queen’s and Wimbledon finalist Raonic to a tie-break and grab an early advantage.

Raonic bounced back at the start of the second to break Norrie and then hold his serve, powering through to level things and, despite a dogged determination in a gruelling decider from the Brit, Raonic took his third match point in a tie-break to clinch victory.

Norrie said: “It’s tough but I was honestly proud about my level, I gave myself a lot of chances and I thought my concentration was great, I enjoyed it but he was too good.

“I’m happy with my attitude, the way I played out there, especially against a serve like that and I played really well in the first tie-breaks.

“I’d like to have a few more matches before Wimbledon but it’s going to pay off eventually and I just need to keep going for it.

“At a match point I missed the back hand long by a little bit, I was maybe a bit too aggressive, in the past I maybe would’ve guided it and maybe won the match but hopefully in the longer term those shots can pay off in even bigger matches.

“Hopefully my philosophy and skill will pay off longer term and I can play a bit more on instinct when it does come further in an even bigger tournament.”

Following an early exit from the LTA’s Rothesay Open last week with defeat to good friend and fellow Brit Jack Pinnington-Jones, Norrie is already eyeing a comeback in the men’s doubles alongside new British No.1 Jack Draper.

The wildcard pairing will meet Santiago Gonzalez and Edouard Roger-Vasselin in the opening round this week as Norrie looks to find his grass court form ahead of Wimbledon.

He added: “I’m excited [to play with Draper], hopefully he’s up for it and I can pick his brains on a few things and what’s working for him on the grass, he’s playing unreal so I’m excited to play on court with him again.

“It gives us a chance to go really deep and I’m excited to watch him in singles as well.”

“I’m excited [to play with Draper], hopefully he’s up for it and I can pick his brains on a few things and what’s working for him on the grass, he’s playing unreal so I’m excited to play on court with him again.

“It gives us a chance to go really deep and I’m excited to watch him in singles as well.”

“Taking losses like this, you need to trust yourself even more, you’ve just got to not flinch, keep going and keep working.

“I’m still playing the best tournaments in the world in front of a home crowd. It’s hard to take the positives but it’s good fun.”

For the latest action on the British summer grass court season, check out the LTA website