Cameron Norrie insists he is ready to take on Lucas Pouille and a partisan Paris crowd.
British number three Norrie faces home favourite and 15th seed Pouille in the second round of the French Open on Wednesday.
This time last year Norrie had only just turned professional and was playing a Challenger event at Surbiton, but 12 months on the 22-year-old will step out the Roland Garros showcourt Philippe Chatrier.
And rather than be fazed by the challenge, Norrie, whose first-round opponent Peter Gojowczyk retired injured at 6-1 2-0 down, is out to silence the crowd.
“I love being the underdog and all the pressure is on him,” he said.
“So it’s going to be a battle and hopefully I’ll come out on top. But it’s going to be a good challenge for me.
“I know it’s going to be tough against Pouille and it’s going to be real physical, and I’m sure I’ll be a little bit nervous. I’ll be on a big court.
“But I’m really looking forward to it, and it’s just another great experience.”
Pouille is an undoubted step up in class but Norrie has proved he can live with top-20 players after recent wins over Roberto Bautista Agut, in the Davis Cup, and John Isner.
He can also pick the brains of fellow Briton Kyle Edmund, who beat Pouille on the clay of Rome just a fortnight ago.
“For sure I’ll ask Kyle to see what he thinks,” added . “I also remember watching Kyle in Davis Cup against him. It was a good match.
“Kyle’s played him a couple times, so he would be a good person to ask.”
