ATP Montpellier Live Stream – 3-9 February 2020

Here are the seeded players at the 2020 Open Sud de France.

About ATP Montpellier

After January’s fierce battles in the heat of the Australian summer, the focus of the ATP World Tour switches to European indoor hard courts in February and ATP Montpellier is a popular place to start the European indoor swing for the top players of men’s tennis. While some opt for the ‘Golden Swing’ of clay-court tournaments in Latin and South America, many of the ATP World Tour’s top players instead choose Europe and the indoor hard courts of Montpellier and Rotterdam – well-established, prestigious events which provide the perfect opportunity to perhaps brush off a disappointing start to the season and start afresh, with 250 ranking points and €501,345 in prize money on the line.

Played since 1987, the Open Sud de France relocated to Montpellier from Lyon in 2010 and in 2012 moved to a new, exciting multi-purpose venue called the ARENA which features a total capacity of 14,000 and seats 7,500 during the tournament.

The crowds that have shown up at the new Montpellier venue have been rewarded with some top-flight tennis in recent years and the upcoming 2017 Open Sud de France looks set to be no exception.

Ever since Yannick Noah captured the inaugural Open Sud de France title in Lyon in 1987, French players have had a strong presence at the tournament with seven French players winning the title over the years – Noah (1987), Arnaud Clement (2000), Paul-Henri Mathieu (2002), Richard Gasquet (2006, 2013, 2015 and 2016), Sebastian Grosjean (2007) and Gael Monfils (2010, 2014).

International stars have also shone at the Open Sud de France, with John McEnroe winning in 1989 and Pete Sampras capturing three consecutive titles in 1991-93 – a feat that has never since been equaled. Yevgeny Kafelnikov (1996), Ivan Ljubicic (2001, 2009), Robin Soderling (2004), Andy Roddick (2005) and Tomas Berdych (2012) have all captured the title at the Open Sud de France in Lyon and Montpellier.

The 2015 edition of the Open Sud de France saw 2013 champion Richard Gasquet reclaim the title, following the disappointment of finishing as the runner-up to compatriot Gael Monfils in 2014. Gasquet faced fellow Frenchman and wildcard Lucas Pouille first up, before he overcame sixth ranked Denis Istomin to set up a final rematch with defending champion Monfils in the semis. However, this time Gasquet would avenge his 2014 loss in straight sets 6-4, 6-3, before going on to claim the title against fifth ranked Jerzy Janowicz (Janowicz retired at 0-3 in the finale).

Gasquet returned to the Open Sud de France in 2016. Despite having missed the beginning of the season, including the Australian Open, due to injury, Gasquet became the first man since Pete Sampras in 1993 to win back-to-back ATP Montpellier titles after second seed Marin Cilic was stunned in the second round by rising star Alexander Zverev. Zverev went on to make the semifinals but was defeated by former champion Paul-Henri Mathieu, who in turn fell to Gasquet 5-7, 4-6 in an all-French final. Zverev would go on to make amends in 2017 as he experienced a breakout season that saw him crack the world’s top four – and it all started in Montpellier as he toppled reigning champion Gasquet in straight sets in the final. Gasquet would make it back to the final once more in 2018, but unfortunately he finished second best for the second season running, with compatriot Lucas Pouille emerging triumphant with the silverware.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was only able to play a handful of tournaments in 2018 as he underwent knee surgery after retiring in the semifinals in Montpellier, but returned to the Open Sud de France in 2019 revived despite a ranking that had dropped outside the top 200. Granted a wildcard, the 210-ranked Tsonga came through a draw which included four compatriots and Radu Albot of Moldova in the semifinals, beating Pierre-Hugues Herbert to claim the Montpellier title after the tournament’s eighth all-French final.

ATP Montpellier Tournament Information

Former ATP Montpellier Champions

Here is a complete list of former champions at the Open Sud de France.

Players still active in singles are given in bold.

ATP Montpellier Ranking Points

Here are the ranking points awarded by the ATP for reaching various rounds at a 250 like the Open Sud de France.