Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the ATP Roland Garros match.
The start of Roland Garros has traditionally brought added pressure for Daniil Medvedev. Despite his status among the elite, clay remains his least preferred surface. Between 2017 and 2020, he was knocked out in the first round four times. This year’s draw, however, is favourable — his opponent is Cameron Norrie, a player Daniil Medvedev has beaten on all four previous occasions. Still, Norrie should not be overlooked. He arrives in strong form and could pose problems, particularly early in the match.
Daniil Medvedev
Daniil Medvedev holds a 4:0 head-to-head record against Cameron Norrie, with their latest meeting taking place recently in Rome on clay. Medvedev claimed a straightforward 6:4, 6:2 victory. So far this season, he has won 7 of his 10 matches on clay, though he has dropped at least one set in six of them. His performance at Roland Garros has been modest — his best run came in 2021 when he reached the quarter-finals, while last year Medvedev was eliminated in the round of 16 by Alex de Minaur.
Cameron Norrie
Cameron Norrie arrives in Paris in encouraging form. In Geneva, he posted convincing wins over Dominic Stricker, Tomas Machac, and Alexei Popyrin en route to the semi-finals. This season, Norrie has won 11 of his last 17 matches on clay, taking at least one set in 16 of those encounters. His first serve has been a key weapon, landing 67% and winning 68% of points on that delivery.
Daniil Medvedev vs Cameron Norrie Prediction
Although Daniil Medvedev enters as the favourite, considering Cameron Norrie's current form, Medvedev's history in early rounds at Roland Garros, and the contrasting styles of play, there’s every reason to expect a competitive match. Cameron Norrie is well-positioned to take at least one set.
