World No.1 Rafael Nadal believes France’s Lucas Pouille can get himself back on the right track after what has been a difficult season for him.
Nadal will will take on the Frenchman in the first round of the China Open. Unlike Nadal, Pouillie has experienced a roller-coaster journey on the tour this season. In 2017, he has achieved a win-loss of 28-18 so far, claiming two titles in Budapest and Stuttgart. On the other hand, he has only managed to reach the fourth round at one grand slam event and has only won three matches in four tournaments since Wimbledon. A sharp contrast to last year where he reached two major quarter-finals and rose to a ranking high of 13th in the world.
“It is normal that (the) second year after big success is never easy.” Nadal told reporters in Beijing. “But he has a great level of tennis. Hopefully he will not finish the season that well because I am playing against him tomorrow.” He later joked.
Despite as lull in Pouille’s results, Nadal believes he has the ability to return back to his best. Last year the 23-year-old enjoyed five wins over top 10 players, but is yet to grab a single scalp this season.
“I am sure that he will be fighting for the important things next year. He has the talent to do it. He has the game, the right level of tennis to make that happen if he wants to do it.” Nadal said.
Unlike his upcoming opponent, Nadal has enjoyed a stellar season. The Spaniard has won five titles so far, including two at grand slam tournaments. In the lead up to the US Open, he returned to world No.1 for the first time since 2014. The 31-year-old is now battling against Roger Federer to end the year at the top of the Emirates rankings. Something he hasn’t done since 2013.
Nadal is currently tied at 1-1 in his head-to-head with the world No.23. At the 2015 Monte Carlo Masters he triumphed in straight sets, before Pouillie got revenge a year later at the US Open.
