French Open 2019 – Lucas Pouille vs Simone Bolelli Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
Where is Lucas Pouille vs Simone Bolelli taking place? Suzanne-Lenglen, Roland-Garros, Paris
When is Lucas Pouille vs Simone Bolelli on and what time does it start? Tuesday 28th May, 2019 – (not before) 13:15 (UK)
What channel is Lucas Pouille vs Simone Bolelli on in the UK? ITV4 & Eurosport are sharing broadcasting rights for the French Open so it is worth checking their schedules
Where can I stream Lucas Pouille vs Simone Bolelli? Televised matches can be streamed via the ITV Hub & Eurosport Player
Where can I get tickets for Lucas Pouille vs Simone Bolelli?
https://tickets.rolandgarros.com/en/home
HEAD-TO-HEAD
All-time meetings: Lucas Pouille 1-1 Simone Bolelli
Last meeting: Lucas Pouille beat Simone Bolelli 7-5, 4-1 (RET)
THE PLAYERS
LUCAS POUILLE
- Lucas Pouille has had a difficult and underwhelming clay court season so far having exited at the earliest opportunity at Monte-Carlo, Barcelona and Rome.
- Pouille has not fared too well at his home Grand Slam in Paris and will hope to at least replicate his best showing in reaching the third round of the competition.
- Lucas Pouille was the victor in the previous meeting with Simone Bolelli back in 2015 but the Italian was forced to retire through injury in the second set.
SIMONE BOLELLI
- 33-year-old Simone Bolelli made it through the qualifiers, dropping only one set, to play in the 12th consecutive French Open of his career.
- Bolelli reached a career-high 36th in the world back in 2009 and has never made it past the third round at Roland-Garros, having come up against clay-specialists Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem in his last two appearances.
- Bolelli will face Frenchman Lucas Pouille in their first-round encounter with their head-to-head balanced at 1-1, although both of these matches were played in 2015 so they will be vastly different players now.
THE PREDICTION
Lucas Pouille, coached by French ace Amelie Mauresmo, has disappointed at Roland-Garros since his 2013 debut and this year’s form on clay provides little to suggest he will go deep in this tournament. Simone Bolelli plays his 12th Roland-Garros with little to prove as he comes towards the twilight of his career, and the Italian could test Pouille’s metal all the way before a gulf in ability just about puts the Frenchman through.
