“Yeah, it’s a weird one now with my family not living here anymore,” said Norrie on Sunday.

“It’s a little bit strange, all my family, friends not here to support me. I’m not catching up with them … I’m staying in the hotel. But still the centre court is so special here.

“I was a young kid coming to watch all these players playing in this tournament and now I’m still playing and I’m going to be playing there on the centre court on Monday. That’s a nice feeling and I think that kid would be proud of me.”

The 30-year-old Norrie has played on the biggest stages, with deep runs at Grand Slams, a title at Indian Wells – recognised as the fifth major – and a long period as a top 10 player.

But the Auckland event remains much more than just another ATP 250, with the memories of being a fan and ball kid here, then playing qualifying for four years before he finally managed a main draw appearance.

“It’s a big one for me,” said Norrie.

“Obviously, it’s a lead into a Grand Slam, so I want to have matches and feel good out there. But it’s more just a reminder that I’m still playing on the tour in a tournament where I would come every day trying to get photos [and] autographs with players.”

Norrie has had great days in Auckland – reaching the final in 2019 and 2023 – and not so great, like being bundled out in the first-round last year to unheralded Argentine Facundo Diaz Acosta, in a match where he also received a code violation for throwing his racquet into a corporate box.

“That was a tough one,” recalled Norrie.

“There were a few things going on and I ended up having the flu afterwards and I was not able to play Australia properly anyway.”

Norrie is in a good space, after a strong end to last season. He struggled during the first half of 2025 – admitting he was probably trying too hard to regain his ranking – before deciding to let go mentally, when he realised how much he had already achieved in his career.

“It was taking a step back and just enjoying my tennis a little bit more, knowing that I have the freedom to just play tennis, to enjoy it,” explained Norrie.

“I’d made a bit of money in tennis and I should not have this pressure on me. So I relaxed and then – boom.”

Norrie enjoyed a great Northern Hemisphere summer, reaching the fourth round at Roland Garros, before another memorable run at Wimbledon to the quarter finals, where he was stopped by Carlos Alcaraz.

Later in the year he reached the final at Metz, while he also made headlines when he topped No 1 Alcaraz at the Paris Masters.

“At some point in that match I was thinking, ‘Oh, this is insane intensity’. Every point is like full energy and I was like, ‘I cannot drop, I can’t afford to drop’.

“And actually he dropped a little bit and I was able to take the small edge that way.

“So that was so good and I don’t know why that day I felt unreal. Not tight, not thinking anything, just there playing.”

On Monday world No 28 Norrie will make his 13th main draw appearance here, against French qualifier Hugo Gaston (No 94) in the first match of the night session.

During the day Kiwi wildcard James Watt is in action against American Jenson Brooksby, while Ajeet Rai will feature in first round doubles. Others in action include former Auckland finalist Adrian Mannarino and seventh seed Sebastian Baez.

Michael Burgess has been a Sports Journalist for the New Zealand Herald since 2005, covering the Olympics, Fifa World Cups, and America’s Cup campaigns. He is a co-host of the Big League podcast.