Novak Djokovic has declared that Cameron Norrie “deserves to be” back in the world’s top 10 ahead of their French Open showdown. The 24-time Major winner beat the Brit in Geneva less than two weeks ago and is looking forward to another meeting on the clay, this time at Roland Garros.
Djokovic has an undefeated 5-0 record against Norrie, whose ranking has dropped to No. 81 in the world following a recent dip in form. But Norrie has rediscovered his best tennis in Paris and upset Daniil Medvedev in the first round – a victory that caught Djokovic’s attention. “I saw his impressive win in the first round against Medvedev, I think he was 5-3 down in the fifth and managed to turn that around, so he’s a big fighter,” the No. 6 seed said after his third-round win on Saturday night.
“He’s a grinder, Cameron. He’s known for that on the tour. He never gives up. He’s always trying to back himself and [has a] positive attitude on the court, so I think he’s a great example for the younger kids watching him play, he is always [showing] the right attitude.
“So, you know, I’m going to be ready for the battle. We played recently in Geneva, obviously a bit more altitude there and different conditions. But yeah, he’s in form.”
Norrie has had to go through qualifying to enter most of the big tournaments this clay season. But he looks set for a big jump in the rankings after reaching week two of the French Open for the first time, and Djokovic wants to see him back at the top of tennis.
The three-time champion in Paris added: “He struggled a bit in maybe the last couple of years, but he’s now building his form. He’s now coming back to, I think, where he deserves.
“He deserves to be, you know, top 20, top 15, 10 in the world. He’s been there, he’s been in the last stages of Grand Slams. We played semis in Wimbledon some years ago, so yeah, it’s going to be a good one. I look forward to it.”
If Djokovic beats Norrie on Monday, he will reach a milestone 100 match wins at Roland Garros and, by reaching the quarters, he’d surpass the number of matches played by 14-time champion Rafael Nadal here with 117.
“It’s a slightly different record we have here! Well, look, I think I can’t be compared to Rafa in this tournament,” Djokovic said of the milestone numbers.
“But to know that I played now almost as many matches he has played in his entire career in this tournament is amazing, you know, just that stat alone for me in terms of longevity.
“Something that particularly in the last maybe five to seven years, I was looking forward to try to extend my career, to try to be playing on a highest level for as long as I possibly can regardless of the age, and that’s what’s happening. So I can’t be happier with that.”
Norrie beat fellow Brit Jacob Fearnley in straight sets on Saturday evening on Court Simonne-Mathieu – the court right at the end of the Stade Roland Garros complex which is nearest to the Parc des Princes.
The former Indian Wells winner ignored fireworks, car horns and sirens to seal a 6-3 7-6(1) 6-2 victory, and Fearnley later said there was no reason Norrie couldn’t pull off the upset if he brought his best level against Djokovic.
“Of course. Cam makes things very difficult for you. Yeah, 100 per cent. If he believes he can win and he has a good day, a solid day, then yeah, definitely he can beat Novak,” Fearnley said.