Lucas Pouille

Lucas Pouille is a French tennis player who first shot to fame when he upset Rafael Nadal in the 2016 US Open 4th round.

Pouille is one of the latest prodigies in the long line of talented shot-makers from France, and is tipped to end his career as one of the most successful. He has notched up a few big wins already, having cracked the top 10 for the first time in 2018.

Best finish at each of the four Grand Slams:

Australian Open: 1st Round (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)

French Open: 3rd Round (2017, 2018)

Wimbledon: Quarterfinalist (2016)

US Open: Quarterfinalist (2016)

Highest Ranking: No. 10

Style of play

Pouille is an aggressive player who can launch attacks from virtually any position on the court. He is equally comfortable with his forehand and backhand, and can hit winners off either side.

Pouille hits his groundstrokes relatively flat, often opting to try and hit through the court rather than open it up. He approaches the net on a few occasions too, ending points set up by his groundstrokes.

Pouille has plenty of variations in his armory, and is capable of hitting short slices, drop shots and lobs whenever he chooses to.

Strengths and weaknesses

Pouille's favorite shot is his forehand, and it's no surprise why. His forehand is an accurate and lethal weapon, with the ability to break open any point with just one swing. He can hit it down the line, inside out or crosscourt with abandon, and often racks up double digit winners off that wing.

Pouille's backhand is almost as dangerous, and in fact may be slightly more consistent than his forehand. His two-hander can generate pace and penetration with an effortless flick of the wrist, while his one-handed slice has plenty of bite to it.

The Frenchman has a good serve, although he can sometimes lose the shape on the first serve when put under pressure. His return is used as an offensive weapon, which means it is a little hit-or-miss.

Pouille is not the quickest mover at the back of the court, but can turn defense into offense very often by mixing up the trajectory of his shots. He also has a safe pair of hands at the net, and can use his delicate touch to carve under volleys quite effectively.

Pouille's shot selection is possibly his biggest weakness. He doesn't always make the best decision about which shot to play from where, which explains his usually high unforced error count.

Personal life

Pouille was born in Grand-Synthe, France, but currently lives in Dubai. He is of mixed heritage; his father Pascal is French, but mother Lena is from Finland.

Pouille started playing tennis at the age of eight, and grew up idolizing Roger Federer. His dream of playing with the Swiss legend has come true; the two sometimes practise together in Dubai.

The Frenchman made headlines at the 2016 US Open when he defeated Rafael Nadal in a five-set thriller. Since then, he has continued making strides on the ATP tour and is expected to challenge for Grand Slams in the future.

Social media presence:

Lucas Pouille Instagram: @lucaspouille

Lucas Pouille Twitter: @la_pouille