STARNBERG, December 28, 2020
Organizers of the Open d’Orleans announced on Monday that former World No. 10 Lucas Pouille of France will skip the Australian Open to compete on home soil at the ATP Challenger 125 hard-court event. The 16th edition of the prestigious tournament will be held from February 1 to 7, 2021 at the Palais des Sports d’Orleans.
L’équipe de l’Open d’Orleans se réjouit de la 1ère participation de @la_pouille à @opendorleans. L’ex n.10 ATP s’est en effet inscrit pour notre 16ème édition 1-7/02/2021), privilégiant le circuit Challenger pour sa reprise plutôt que l’OA. #tennis #atpchallenger #lapouille pic.twitter.com/whmlmkWp5R
— Open d’Orléans (@opendorleans) December 28, 2020
Pouille only played one match in 2020. The 26-year-old lost in the second round of the Oracle Challenger Series Indian Wells to US-American Noah Rubin in straight sets. Pouille had to undergo surgery on his right elbow in July.
The current World No. 70 had kicked off the 2018 season from inside the Top 10, playing on a high level in February but losing ground in the rest of the season, suffering almost 20 losses and staying away from deep runs. However, the Dubai resident advanced to the semi-finals of the Australian Open 2019 thanks to wins over Borna Coric and Milos Raonic to set Novak Djokovic clash, which he lost in three sets.
💪🏻💦 #HardWorkPaysOff #Allez @Allin_academy_ pic.twitter.com/dRp2IZtYq6
— Lucas Pouille (@la_pouille) December 14, 2020
Pouille will make a fresh start in 2021, practicing at the All In Tennis Academy ahead of the first matches in four weeks. He hasn’t played a Grand Slam tournament since the US Open 2019, losing to Briton Daniel Evans in the second round.
The Open d’Orleans will be part of a three-week indoor swing in France joining the tournament in Quimper and the 28th edition of Cherbourg.
