Richard Gasquet vs Cameron Norrie Prediction & Betting Tips - ASB Classic

Prediction published on 13/01/2023, 10:34  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 13/01/2023 at 12:00 in Tennis Predictions

Britain's Cameron Norrie bids to win the Auckland Classic. He takes on the French veteran Richard Gasquet in the final and is the odds-on favorite to lift the trophy. Norrie will be delighted with the way he has started the new year. 2022 got off to a poor start but this time around he's already beaten Rafael Nadal in the United Cup and is in this Auckland final. He's the second seed for this tournament but the only one that made it into the quarter finals. Norrie began this week ranked and will stay in that position even if winning this final. However, he is closing the gap on the top ten. Norrie has had wins over qualifier Jiri Lehecka (needing three sets), Marcos Giron (again dropping the middle set) and then a straight sets win over Jenson Brooksby. He's out to win his fifth ATP Tour title and won two last year.

Richard Gasquet was the world number seven at one point. However, that was 16 years ago and  the 36-year-old was ranked 67th at the start of this week. He's up to 49th after getting to this final and if winning the title can rise to 42nd. The Frenchman is in his first ATP Tour final since July 2021 and not since 2018 has he won a title. That was a grass court tournament and his last title on a hard court was in 2016. His first tournament of the new year was in Adelaide and he lost his first match to Marcos Giron (who lost to Norrie this week) in three sets. It's gone much better this week with victories over wild card Kiranpai Pannu, lucky loser Jaoa Sousa and David Goffin. He then had a walkover in the semi-finals when scheduled opponent Constant Lestienne withdrew. This is the first meeting between the pair and Norrie can get the win in straight sets.