Holger Rune and Andy Murray out to bounce back at Open Sud De France
The ATP 250 Open Sud De France has attracted plenty of big names looking to bounce back after disappointing Australian Open runs.
The draw has been revealed ahead of the first tournament after the Australian Open, the Open Sud de France in Montpellier, which will take place on French hard courts from 28 January to 4 February 2024, with Holger Rune as the top seed.
Rune could take on Richard Gasquet in the second round and is in the same quarter as Alexandre Muller, who starts against a qualifier and may face either Michael Mmoh or Benjamin Bonzi in the second round. The second seed, Alexander Bublik, could face a returning Denis Shapovalov in the second round.
Shapovalov makes his injury return in a match against Hugo Gaston.
Andy Murray is out to kickstart his season but will have to battle beyond home hopeful Benoit Paire.
Murray has been handed the fifth seeding but narrowly missed out on getting a bye into the second round.
French opposition is also guaranteed in the second round for Murray or Paire with the winner of the first round match between Harold Mayot and 2018 Montpellier champion Lucas Pouille bound to face them by the brackets.
Top French prospect Gael Monfils will take on Flavio Cobolli to open, while Canada’s No 1 Felix Auger-Aliassime could face Australian Open success story, Arthur Cazaux or Maximillian Marterer when he starts his campaign in the second round.
Auger-Aliassime could face Murray in the last eight if both players make it to that stage of the competition.
Croatian Borna Coric is the fourth seed and also enjoys a bye into the second round where he is assured to face Spanish opposition.
Coric will face the winner of a first round match between Jaume Munar and Pedro Martinez.
Sixth-seeded Kazakhstan No 2 Alexander Shevchencko will face a qualifier to start, as will Frenchman Gregoire Barrere who is bracketed alongside him in the first round draw.
The Open Sud De France crowned eight French singles champions in its opening 10 editions, including three-time winners Gael Monfils (2010, ’14, ’20) and Richard Gasquet (2013, ’15-’16).
Bublik is also among the former champions of this event having won it in 2022, with 2023 winner Jannik Sinner unable to enter given his run to the Australian Open final.
The Sud de France Arena hosts another edition of the tournament first held in Montpellier in 2010.
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