Cameron Norrie vs Learner Tien Prediction ATP Hong Kong Tennis Picks 12/30/24

Cameron Norrie suffered a significant drop in the ATP rankings last season, starting the year ranked 18th and almost finishing outside the Top 50.

The 29-year-old endured a frustrating season, managing to win 24 wins and losing 21 matches. Failure to defend the Rio Open title was one of many lowlights, with Norrie also losing his status as the Britsh No. 1 to Jack Draper.

At one point during the season, he was ranked 57th, his lowest ATP ranking in two years, and had to play a Challenger event in November to push his ranking inside the Top 50. Thankfully, he did just that, reaching his first final of the season at the Brest Challenger and losing to Benjamin Bonzi.

He reclaimed his spot in the Top 50 by a whisker at No. 49 and is taking part in the Hong Kong Open for the first time.

Learner Tien Preview

It's been a year since Learner Tien turned pro and he's now reaping the fruits of that big decision and his labour. Tien was a standout performer on the ATP Challenger Tour in 2024, winning three titles at that level and four titles on the ITF circuit.

That saw his ranking rise to inside the Top 150, settling at No. 122 in the year-end. It's a remarkable improvement for the 19-year-old who started 2024 outside the Top 400 spots.

Tien commemorated his fantastic season by qualifying at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah where he earned two Top 50 wins over Arthur Fils and his good friend Alex Michelsen. He lost the championship match to Brazilian rising star Joao Fonseca.

Overall, Tien recorded an impressive 63 wins and only 14 losses.

Cameron Norrie vs Learner Tien Head-To-Head

• Norrie and Tien have never played each other on the ATP Tour.

Cameron Norrie vs Learner Tien Prediction

I'm on Tien here and I think the oddsmakers are showing more respect towards Norrie who had a disappointing season. It's too early to make any conclusions that Norrie might be entering a decline, but his form over the last 12 months was deeply concerning. Tien was one of the players to watch at the Next Gen Finals, granted the unique format in that competition shouldn't really serve as a barometer of his potential. But he's certainly brave enough to play on the offense and beat a less confident opponent.