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Cameron Norrie thinks he always produces "good results" after playing Rafael Nadal and that's why he is rooting to see the Spaniard back in action soon. Norrie, 27, has played against Nadal five times. Their last meeting came at the inaugural United Cup, where Norrie upset Nadal 3-6 6-3 6-4 for his first win over the Spaniard.
After the United Cup, Norrie won Rio de Janeiro and finished as runner-up in Auckland and Buenos Aires. "That was special, obviously, playing him on Pista Rafa Nadal. I think that was maybe the first time or the second time I played him.
To play him the first time on clay, to play him here — and the court is named after him — was pretty special and he played too good. Every time I play with Rafa, I always play really well after that. Playing at that level, I think the matches following that always have good results.
So I'm missing him. I need to see him back on tour soon," Norrie said in a conversation with the ATP Tour, via Sportskeeda.
Norrie won't have a chance to face Nadal again in Barcelona
This week, Norrie is competing at the Barcelona Open while Nadal pulled out of the tournament due to an ongoing hip injury.
Two years ago, Norrie clashed Nadal in the Barcelona quarterfinal. Back then, Nadal routinely handled Norrie with a 6-1 6-4 score. Nadal. who hasn't played since the Australian Open, was hoping to kick off his clay season this week.
Unfortunately, that didn't happen. "Barcelona is a special tournament for me because it's my adopted club, and playing on home soil always evokes a unique feeling. However, I'm not yet fully prepared, and I'm currently in the process of preparing myself for my return to competition," Nadal announced on Instagram last week. It remains to be seen when Norrie will get another chance to play against Nadal.