Just a few days before the Australian Open starts in Melbourne, the ATP Auckland Classic has treated us to some thrilling tennis and that should continue on the final day with New Zealand-born Cameron Norrie set to take on the veteran Richard Gasquet, who has turned back the years this week to make his first hard-court final in almost four years. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our prediction for the match, but who will come out on top?
ATP Auckland Final Prediction
Head-to-head: first meeting
It is perhaps surprising that this pair have never played each other before. The Briton, now a consistent top 15 player in the world hasn’t had it all his way this week dropping sets to the talented Jiri Lehecka in his opener and as well as against Marcos Giron in the quarterfinals but he’s done what he does best in grinding out wins. His performance in the semifinals against the American Jenson Brooksby was a huge step up level wise which puts him in good shape for this final.
Richard Gasquet, on the otherhand, was lucky enough to get a walkover in his semifinal where he had been due to face Constant Lestienne due to his fellow Frenchman picking up an injury in the last eight. The former world #7 hasn’t had the toughest path through to the final, but a stunning performance to rally past David Goffin in the quarterfinals should give the 36-year-old something to build on heading into the final.
Expect plenty of long rallies here, with neither man possessing a particularly big serve or massive power off the ground, though Gasquet can still do some real damage with his backhand when he catches it sweetly. Ultimately though, the Briton’s consistency off the ground and better movement around the court (hardly surprising when he has so many fewer miles on the clock than Gasqeut) should give him a decisive advantage.
Prediction: Norrie in 2
Main photo:
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