Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the ATP Barcelona match.
For Karen Khachanov, the ATP tournament in Barcelona offers a chance to finally settle into his clay-court rhythm. The draw appears favourable, and the level of competition is within reach. His upcoming opponent, Cameron Norrie, has been slipping in the rankings and is not at his physical best. While neither player is currently in peak form, the Russian appears to hold the edge in both motivation and freshness.
Karen Khachanov
Karen Khachanov put in a strong showing against Daniil Medvedev in Monte Carlo, despite falling 5:7, 6:4, 4:6. He won 67% of points on his opponent’s second serve, landed 71% of his first serves, and repeatedly took control of rallies with his powerful forehand, frequently stretching Daniil Medvedev across the baseline. Khachanov has won both of his last two meetings with Cameron Norrie on clay. Overall, he leads their head-to-head (4-3).
Cameron Norrie
Cameron Norrie’s current form leaves a lot to be desired. In his match against Damir Dzumhur (7:6, 7:6), he failed to generate a single break point. Against Hugo Gaston (6:2, 6:3), he created just three break opportunities, though he took all of them. Overall, Norrie has had a disappointing season, having been eliminated in the first round of his last three tournaments. The players who eliminated him — Thomaz Bellucci, Yunchaokete Bu, and Constant Lestienne — are all ranked outside the ATP Top 60.
Karen Khachanov vs Cameron Norrie Prediction
Karen Khachanov has consistently had the upper hand over Cameron Norrie on clay. His display against Daniil Medvedev was promising, and he appears in far better physical condition. Cameron Norrie is struggling with a lack of aggression in rallies, limited break-point opportunities, and a noticeable decline in form. The Russian looks well-positioned to move past Cameron Norrie and continue his run in Barcelona.
