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Anita Stahl

Tennis | ATP Indian Wells 2021 | Norrie: College tennis was a ‘great decision for me’ as he bids to claim first Masters crown

Anita Stahl
Tennis

  • Cameron Norrie defeated Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 6-4
  • Norrie through to first carrier Masters final
  • Secured British No. 1 ranking

By Anita Stahl

INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA, USA – Cameron Norrie breezed past Grigor Dimitrov to reach his first ever Masters 1000 final at the BNP Paribas Open.

Cameron Norrie breezed past Grigor Dimitrov in a 6-2, 6-4 semi-final that had him on the court for less than an hour and a half.

Speaking with press after his decisive victory, Norrie expressed the relaxed attitude that helped him win the match as well as win over American tennis audiences: “I was just going out there and playing my game and making the rallies long. Honestly not once I was thinking about [the final].”

Asked about the Battle of the Brits, Norrie expressed gratitude for the opportunity it gave him and his fellow countrymen to play through travel restrictions that pumped the brakes on global sport.

Smiling, he told reporters, “That was huge for all of us players to get those matches with a lot of pressure. None of us wanted to lose to anyone else. With everyone watching as well at the NTC. That was perfect. Even to have Andy, Kyle, Evo, Jack, Jubby, Broads, all those players there to practice with, everyone was wanting the same thing, and to get good practices and good matches.” He added, “I’m looking forward to the next event as well in December.”

While his experience as a British player certainly shaped the season, he also took a moment to share how the US college system helped his development.

He explained that the time playing for Texas Christian University gave him, “more time to mature and go out and really get stuck in and enjoy my time there, get an education as well. Everything is organised for you. Your friends are there. You get to hang out with them on the weekends. You get to practice with them and get better. I was able to not really think about the tour and the scarring of losing a lot of matches in futures. I thought it was really a great decision for me.”

Norrie will play Nikoloz Basilashvili in the BNP Paribas Open final Sunday. Norrie hopes to become the first Brit ever to win the tournament.