Cameron Norrie has warned Novak Djokovic that he isn't going to change his gung-ho style after clashing with the Serbian in Rome - and ahead of his French Open second round tie.
Norrie, 27, edged past Benoit Paire 7-5, 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the first round at Roland Garros to book a meeting with Frenchman Lucas Pouille on Wednesday afternoon. However, the British No.1 has come under criticism of late following his clash with Djokovic at the Italian Open earlier this month.
Djokovic accused Norrie of unsporting behaviour after the match which the Wimbledon champion won 6-3, 6-4. It was a tense affair and one moment of confrontation occurred during the second set when Norrie seemingly hit the back of Djokovic's shoe by accident. The Serb didn't seem too impressed and hit back following the two-set win.
However, Djokovic also had other issues with Norrie, including Norrie's frequent and vocal fist‑pumping after successful points from early in the match and the medical timeout he took before Djokovic served for the match. At the time, Djokovic said: "Regardless if it's a tennis match or not, you turn up on time for whatever it is.
"He's allowed to take a medical timeout. He's allowed to hit a player. He's allowed to say: 'C'mon' in the face more or less every single point from basically the first game."
But Norrie has since responded: "I didn't think I was in his face at all. I think if anyone knows me, I’m pretty vocal in some matches and in other matches. I love seeing players compete and really get up for the matches and really wanting to win. You see it in all sports. On the football field and on the tennis court.
"For me, I’m competing as hard as I can. I’m not trying to do it to distract the other guy or anything. I’m really just pumped to win every point I can and I’m playing point for point.
"This is the only time that anyone’s had an issue with it. It was a regular tennis match for me. I competed as hard as I could and I went toe-for-toe with him. At the end of the day, he won the match. For me, that’s all that matters and it was a good match to play before the French."
Following his defeat to Sebastien Baez in the Lyon Open last week, Hungarian Marton Fucsovics complained about the Argentine being too loud. But Norrie disagreed and said: "I actually watched the match with Baez and I think there was nothing wrong with what he was doing.
"There is a difference: if you’re doing it right in front of someone’s face and looking at them and trying to taunt them, that’s not great. I was not doing that, Baez was not doing that, and I think it’s part of the game."
