Cameron Norrie antics ‘fair play’, but Novak Djokovic ‘has every right to not like it’ – Former world No 1

Cameron Norrie didn’t break any tennis rules during his heated match against Novak Djokovic and you can’t “blame a guy for trying”, according to Andy Roddick.

Djokovic lashed out at Norrie after their fourth-round clash at the Italian Open as he was unimpressed with “a combination of things” from the British No 1.

The most contentious issues were Norrie accidentally smashing a ball into the 22-time Grand Slam winner early in the second set – something which he apologised for immediately – taking a medical timeout late in the match and also shouting “C’mon” too often for his opponent’s liking.

Although the world No 1 described the 13th seed as “nice off the court”, he felt some of his antics were “not fair play” according to locker room rules as “it’s not how we treat each other”.

Djokovic added: “I don’t understand this kind of attitude on the court, to be honest. But it is what it is.

“He brought the fire, and I responded to that. I’m not going to allow someone behaving like this just bending my head. I’m going to respond to that.”

2003 US Open champion Roddick can see the argument from both sides, but feels Norrie had every right to “try something” to upset Djokovic’s rhythm.

WATCH: Novak Djokovic furious after Cameron Norrie smashes ball into him

“It’s fair play. Norrie has every right to do what he wants and Novak has every right to not like it,” the former world No 1 told Tennis Channel. “He wasn’t breaking any rules. I’ve gotten in trouble for criticising people for taking medical timeouts a little too often.

“Novak said that he looked at the replay and said that maybe Norrie didn’t see him with his back turned. So Novak understands hitting a ball where you’re not supposed to, sometimes.

“Listen, it doesn’t matter. Norrie can do what he wants, Novak cannot like it, we wash our hands, and we move on. Novak got the win and it’s over. Or we stay mad about it, which makes no sense at all.

“He didn’t break any rules, he was obviously trying to do something because he was not winning with the patterns that were being played on the court. So he tried to change the dynamic of the match. Novak is just way too experienced, he has seen it too many times. You’re going to blame a guy for trying? You don’t have to like it but he was trying something.”