French rising star Lucas Pouille believes he is on the verge challenging for the biggest titles in tennis following his breakthrough year on the tour.
Starting 2016 ranked 78th in the world, the 22-year-old has reached back-to-back grand slam quarterfinals and won his maiden ATP title in Metz, France. The series of achievements has elevated the Frenchman to a career-high of 15th in the world. Pouille’s stellar year has been recognised by the ATP Tour, who named him the Most Improved Player of 2016.
Pouille is one of four Frenchman ranked in the world’s top 20. They are a group of talented individuals, but all have come short in grand slam tournaments. Richard Gasquet and Gael Monfils are still bidding to reached their first major final. Meanwhile, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has failed to reproduce his run to the final of the 2008 Australian Open. The pattern forming is becoming an unwelcome one associated with French Tennis, but Pouille has the belief that he can one day break the trend.
“Honestly I don’t know, but it’s true that when you speak about a Spaniard, you say he’s a fighter and he’s going to run down every ball and try to put one more ball in the court every time. And when you talk about a French, it’s like okay, he’s talented, but he’s not going to fight hard or work hard. I don’t know if it’s true, I don’t want to judge anybody, but the only thing for sure is that I’m not those things,” he said during an exclusive interview with Sport360.
“I don’t know why I’m different. Maybe the way I’ve been educated. Maybe my two cultures, my mum is Finnish, my dad is French, so maybe that. But I think the main thing is the way I’ve been educated.”
Bidding to become the first French man to win a major title since Yannick Noah at the 1983 French Open, Pouille has the opportunity of learning from one of the all-time greats. Training in his new residency of Dubai, his off-season has involved working alongside Roger Federer, the only man of history to win 17 grand slam singles titles. It isn’t the first time that the two have trained together, but Federer’s presence is still one that inspires his younger rival.
“To see the way he’s working and putting in the hard work. I think it’s always a great experience and I’m very lucky to have the opportunity.” Pouille said about Federer.
“What stands out the most I think is the way he wants to improve every time.
“He always wants to be better, to work on something, to push his limits. Sometimes he’s going to hit (long), ‘it’s okay, I’m going to make some mistakes, but I’m going to go for it, I’m going to practice hard and in the match it’s going to be good’.
The turn in fortunes is a stark contrast to those of 12 months ago. Prior to 2016, Pouille has never progressed beyond the second round of a major as he displayed glimmers on his talent on the tour. The blossoming of his game occurred earlier this year at the Miami Masters when he stunned eighth seed David Ferrer in the third round.
“Miami was the turning point,” he said.
“I realised that I had to focus on my game and to improve every day and not to worry about what’s going to happen if I win this one? Or what’s going to happen if I lose this one? What are they going to think of me if I lose, or if I win?”
The sky is now the limit for Pouille. Trying to win a major title in the era of the ‘big four’ would require an outstanding effort, but the Frenchman’s age gives him a hope. Some might predict that his best chance would be in approximately five years time when the landscape of the tour is different, but Pouille has already started to dream big.
“Now I’m preparing to win a grand slam and to win some great tournaments and that’s very different compared to last year,” he explains.
“Last year I didn’t really know if I was able to do that. Today, I’ve made two quarter-finals at grand slams, won some good matches. So I think if I work harder than I have my chances to go far in those kinds of tournaments, semis, finals and why not win?”
Pouille will start his 2017 season at the Brisbane Open during the first week of January.
Lucas Pouille’s full interview with Sport360 can be read in full here.
