2023 ATP French Open: Cam Norrie vs. Lucas Pouille
2023 ATP French Open : Cam Norrie vs. Lucas Pouille
Cam Norrie
Cameron Norrie is enjoying quite the year on clay with a current standing of 16-6.
However, some of that is misleading.
Much of that success comes extremely pre French Open, to February, where he was the runner-up to #1 Carlos Alcaraz at ATP 250 Bueno Aires, before exacting his revenge in the finals at ATP 500 Rio De Janiero.
Since that victory over in Brazil, Norrie is just 6-5 on clay.
Regarded as one of the most consistent players on the tour, Norrie has emerged as a stronger clay-court player within the last two years, noted by consecutive third round appearances here at the French Open.
In Norrie’s most recent match, he fought off former top 20 Benoit Paire from a set down to win in five.
Just like the intensity he faced in his first match, Norrie might be in for a challenge again when he faces former top 10 star and home crowd favorite, Lucas Pouille.
Lucas Pouille
For #675 Lucas Pouille, this is his first slam since last years’ French Open.
In fact, that was the last time he actually played in an ATP tournament.
Once a top 10 player and Australian Open Semi-finalist, Pouille has been through the ringer the past few years, struggling with injuries, addiction, and depression.
However, Pouille has been resilient, rallying around the crowd in recent weeks and showing promising results, letting us know he still has something left in the tank.
After winning his first round match, Pouille now enters this match as the lowest ranked player in the round of 64 since Pablo Cuevas back in 2013.
However, don’t let that fool you.
Pouille is much better than his ranking suggests and has been playing extremely capable tennis within the last few weeks.
A strong home crowd mixed in with Pouille’s strong serve and solid backhand sets the stage for a scintillating match that might turn some heads.
I believe Pouille will have enough and will be able to rally around the crowd as he wins a five-set match, thwarting off the ever-consistent Norrie and taking us back some years.