Cam Norrie replaces Jack Draper as British number one and has no intention of slowing down heading into the Miami Open, although he is aware that he may be drawn into battles with fellow Brits in the future.
Following his quarter-final appearance in Indian Wells, Norie moved up five places in the ATP Rankings and took the top spot for the first time since 2024.
He then ultimately lost that match to Carlos Alcaraz, but left convinced that his tennis was strong.
Indian Wells was also a strong few weeks for Draper as he continues his comeback from an arm injury.
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Highlights of Jack Draper vs. Daniil Medvedev at Indian Wells
He also lost a controversial match against Daniil Medvedev at the quarter-final stage.
Despite these losses, this is the first time in a while that the pair are playing strong tennis at the same time, and for Norrie, it’s an interesting moment where they can “push each other up” in an attempt to reach new heights.
“To be honest, it wasn’t on my radar, but it’s obviously something very special. It’s very nice to be number one in the UK, but obviously there are still 23 people ahead of me,” Draper told Sky Sports.
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Highlights of Carlos Alcaraz vs. Cameron Norrie in the Indian Wells quarterfinals
“So there’s a lot going on and a lot of progress needs to be made, but it’s great and clearly shows we’re heading in the right direction.
“It’s good to have Jack (Draper) back. I think it’s going to be very impressive to see him, but he’s only been back a few tournaments.
“For me it took a while to get fit for the game because I was injured, but for him he came back playing at a very high level and that was very impressive.
“I know how much and how much he wants to come back and play in these tournaments, so it’s nice to have him back, especially for the Davis Cup.
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A controversial interference was made against Jack Draper, allowing Daniil Medvedev to break and defeat the defending champion in Indian Wells.
“I think it’s going to be great. We’re pretty much in the same position at the moment. We’re definitely going to push each other and hopefully we can get some more games.”
His strong performance at Indian Wells only boosts Norrie’s confidence heading into the Miami Open, a tournament where he feels the conditions suit him.
With that in mind, he hopes to combine his good form with the stages he enjoys to ensure another breakthrough.
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Highlights of Rinky Hijikata vs. Cameron Norrie at Indian Wells
“It was good to play against Alcaraz. We have done everything right in the last few weeks,” he added.
“Last week I felt tennis was really easy for me and I was playing really aggressive without even trying to be aggressive and hitting winners in moments when I wasn’t even trying to win.
“I think that’s a sign that I’m playing well and doing the fundamentals very well. But I think you need momentum to play like that. Preparing the way I’ve been giving me the best chance and I want to keep going and there’s no reason to slow down.”
“Having a great tournament and playing in another big tournament here in Miami and feeling that hunger to compete again, when the conditions suit me and my game is going really well, I’m excited and there’s no reason to slow down.
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Cameron Norrie says he feels really confident after impressive win over Linky Hijikata in the Indian Wells quarter-finals
“Here in Miami, I don’t always feel great. I’m always pretty tired after taking such a big swing.
“I think Miami is a crazy city in general, so I want to conserve my energy a little bit more and stay as mentally fresh as possible. That’s the biggest thing about being here in Miami.”
“There are a lot of players who are tired and I used to be one of them, so I feel good and fresh and I think that’s the biggest thing.”
“You want to be on your side knowing that these conditions are suitable for you and if you’re struggling you can’t imagine how the other person is going to feel in these hot and humid conditions.”
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