Cameron Norrie believes his best is yet to come after Queen’s runners-up spot

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Cameron Norrie believes the best is yet to come from his 2021 season after narrowly missing out on a first ATP Tour title yesterday.

Norrie had been bidding to become the only Briton other than Andy Murray to win the title at Queen’s since the Second World War but was beaten 6-4 6-7 6-3 by No1 seed Matteo Berrettini.

It was Norrie’s third final of the season and ensured he will be seeded when the Wimbledon draw is made, and he warned rivals he expected the latter part of the season to be his best yet.

“I’m looking forward to the rest of the year,” he said. “I know that my favourite surface is the hard so I’m most comfortable on that. So, we’ll see.”

The British No2 had said prior to the tournament he was confident of translating his strong showing in the clay-court part of the season onto the grass despite bowing out in the first round of every previous Queen’s appearance.

But he beat two seeds as well as countryman Jack Draper on his path to the final, where he pushed Berrettini to the limit but failed to break the Italian’s thunderous serve throughout.

Despite coming up just short as he had done in Estoril and Lyon in May, there was consolation in being seeded for his home grand slam.

“It’s very special to be seeded at Wimbledon,” he said. “Definitely a week like this helps to feel like you’re ready and especially on the movement side of things on the grass. So, it was massive for me to obviously make the final and then to pick up the seeding, so that’s obviously huge too.

“And then knowing that you’re not going to get drawn against one of the top guys to start is another bonus. Yeah, a lot of positives from the week. I’m feeling good and looking forward to Wimbledon, and looking forward to seeing the crowds back again like I did this week.”

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