The grass season has finally come to an end now. As the world recently embraced the Wimbledon champions, a tournament on clay would be the best to fuel the adrenaline levels again. As the stage is set in Bastad, ATP star Cameron Norrie prepares to begin his run against the clay expert Jozef Kovalik in an intense opener.

Cameron Norrie had to halt his Wimbledon dreams with a third-round defeat against Alexander Zverev. However, it is time for him to try his hand on the surface, and he plays at his best once again, but a fierce rival stands in front of him. Here are the odds!

Cameron Norrie vs Jozef Kovalik: Preview

Cameron Norrie

Cameron Norrie is set to start his run in Bastad after his recent exit at Wimbledon, where he lost to Alexander Zverev in the third round. Ranked No. 42 in the world, Norrie has had a mixed season so far but hopes to perform well on the clay courts in Bastad, a tournament he’s never competed in before.

• Current Ranking: No. 42
• Last Match: Lost to Alexander Zverev in the 3rd round of Wimbledon (6-4, 6-4, 7-6(15))
• 2024 Win-Loss Record: 17 wins, 15 losses
• 2024 Clay Court Record: 7 wins, 7 losses
• Best Result in 2024: Semifinal in Rio de Janeiro
• Overall Clay Court Record: 76 wins, 46 losses
• Previous Bastad Appearances: None

Jozef Kovalik

Currently ranked at No. 109, Jozef Kovalik looks forward to starting his campaign in Bastad after a recent loss in the first round of the Braunschweig Challenger to Klein. Kovalik has had a strong season on clay and aims to make his mark in Bastad, where he reached the second round in 2023.

• Last Match: Lost to Lukas Klein in the 1st round of the Braunschweig Challenger (6-7(3), 7-6(3), 6-1)
• 2024 Win-Loss Record: 32 wins, 15 losses
• 2024 Clay Court Record: 29 wins, 10 losses
• Best Results in 2024:
• Won the Zadar Challenger (defeated Adrian Andreev in the final 6-4, 6-2)
  • Won the Split Challenger (defeated Zsombor Piros in the final 6-4, 5-7, 7-5)
  • Won the Karlsruhe Challenger (defeated Camilo Ugo Carabelli in the final 6-3, 7-6(2))
• Overall Clay Court Record: 382 wins, 231 losses
• Previous Bastad Appearances: Reached the 2nd round in 2023

Norrie vs Kovalik: Head-to-head

Cameron Norrie and Jozef Kovalik will face each other for the second time in their careers in Bastad. The head-to-head record is 1-0 in favor of Kovalik, who won their only previous encounter 6-4, 6-4 in the second round of the Greece F4. However, this upcoming match will be their first meeting on clay, adding a new dynamic to their rivalry and offering Norrie a chance to even the score on his preferred surface.

Prediction: Kovalik to win in straight sets

Jozef Kovalik has proved to be strong enough on clay in 2024. With a 9-5 record, he has won 75% of his service games and 21% of his return games on this surface. His break-point conversion rate is an impressive 36% on clay, giving him an upper hand to take advantage of crucial moments. His matches on clay last for an average of 27.8 games. Although he is still looking for his first tournament win on clay in 2024, Kovalik’s firm grip on this surface makes him a tough opponent. Given his recent track record, it is likely that Kovalik will win in straight sets against Norrie.