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Cam Norrie won’t be treating the ASB Classic as his honeymoon despite heading to Auckland weeks after he ties the knot with partner Louise Jacobi.
The former world No 8, who grew up in Auckland, will make his 11th appearance at the tournament in January, a month after his wedding
on December 5 in London.
Norrie told the Herald he’s enjoyed helping with the planning outside of tennis.
“As a professional player, you never really get to do things like this to have all your family around, all your friends in one one place, especially with myself being so so international, living different places and having friends all over the world,” Norrie said.
“So that’ll be super special. It’s been good fun planning. I’m really looking forward to it now, especially just finishing the ATP season last week.
“I have a couple weeks until Davis Cup and then I have my wedding, so I’m so excited.
“I just want to completely enjoy everything. There’s been more things to plan than I would expect, so it’s been difficult, but luckily we’ve had some help.
“It’s something that’s going to be super special to do and have our families meet, so I can’t wait for it to be honest.”
Despite the events being close, Norrie said he wouldn’t be treating the ASB Classic as a honeymoon and would travel without his wife.
“I’ll do Davis Cup, then the wedding, then kind of that’s my time off.
“I’ll go quickly back into training and actually she’s not coming to Auckland this year, so we’ll do something eventually, but no honeymoon for now.
“But when I have the time, then we’ll do something nice for sure.”
The 31-year-old has finished runner-up at the Auckland tournament twice before and was delighted to have another shot at the title.
“It’s a special tournament for me. Obviously growing up in Bucklands Beach, also going to that tournament as a fan, watching all the players play.
“It’s so special for me and even just to go back to Auckland, I just feel good there.
“Obviously, my parents are no longer living there, my sister’s living in London as well, so it’s always a little bit different going back.
“But yeah, just a special, special place and I’ve always gone back to try win the tournament.
“But this year I’m just going to go to enjoy Auckland again and just go play and get myself ready for the Australian Open. I can’t wait.”
He told the Herald he was keen to see more of New Zealand, having not visited as much as he would have wanted over the past few years.
“I think the problem is it’s just so far away,” he said.
“I always go for the tournament or most of the time I’ve gone, but the tricky thing is with the tournament is I go and then when I’m finished with the tournament, I quickly have to go to Melbourne to get ready.
“There’s no hanging around a day to enjoy the beaches, go surfing or do something else, it’s a very quick schedule.
“So I think that’s one thing I always regret and there’s nothing more I would like to spend more time there and I think when I am done with my career, I’ll go back and do all the touristy stuff, rent a van, but that I need some time for that.”
The ATP men’s ASB Classic (January 11-16) follows the WTA women’s ASB Classic (January 4-10) at the Manuka Doctor Arena in Auckland.
Samuel Sherry is a live news sport journalist for the New Zealand Herald, based in Auckland.
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