Cameron Norrie will need to get some much-needed rest ahead of the Australian Open after some sleepless nights fuelled by fantasy football. The British No.2 struggled with jet lag after starting his season with tournaments in Brisbane and Auckland - but he's raring to go in Melbourne.
And Norrie, 30, says his jet lag was mostly caused by his desire to keep up with the Premier League - and his fantasy team - from the other side of the world. The No.26 seed at the Aussie Open said: "I was getting up early, so in the first few nights I felt like I slept well. I was, like, 3am, ready to go.
"I think it didn't help there were a lot of Premier League matches at that time, and I was checking the scores. I was seeing all my Fantasy players not scoring. I was so p***ed off, and I couldn't go back to sleep. I think that was a little bit to do with my Fantasy more than the actual jet lag and the Premier League matches and wanting to watch those and wake up early.
"We did our best, and we're in a good routine of waking up early, and I quite like that rather than being tough to wake up. Then again, it was nice to come from New Zealand here. We're here early, but the jet lag was to our advantage at this time. We're here, practised, and done."
The British tennis pack has its own fantasy football league - LTA coach James Trotman is currently leading - and Norrie added: "There's not too much banter, but just we're following all the matches.
"It's a good way to stay on top of it. I'm doing it more with my team. My coach, Facu, who is not doing it, he doesn't follow too much, but I think a lot of wasted time on looking at different transfers and stuff. It's good fun."
Norrie will now turn his attention to his first-round opponent, Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi, who beat him in the 2024 Metz final.
The Brit added: " I haven't watched him too much recently, but he's a very complete player. Really good first serve, world-class backhand. I haven't watched him. Recently this year I saw him in Brisbane practising a lot.
"I think it's a nice first round. You know, he's not going to blast you off the court. You're not going to have no rhythm. I think quite a clear strategy for me and the way I want to play points, but I'm going to have to execute. It's going to be difficult."
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