Open Sud De France, Montpellier, France ATP 250

[britbox]

DATE: 01 Feb 2016 - 07 Feb 2016
SURFACE: HARD
PRIZE MONEY: €463,520
FIELD SIZE: 28
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Richard Gasquet

Seeds:

1 R. Gasquet
2 M. Cilic
3 G. Simon
4 B. Paire
5 G. Monfils
6 J. Sousa
7 B. Coric
8 M. Baghdatis

 

[britbox]

Nice strong field in Montpellier. Dominated by the top french stars as you would expect.

I'd like to see a strong showing from Gael Monfils on the back of his Australian Open run.

 

[britbox]

 

[britbox]

 

[Moxie]

I see Sousa lost first round. Tomorrow Cilic v. Zverev could be interesting.

 

[herios]

Coric was upset by Berrer. Second event in a row he exits in the first round. Not promising at all.

 

[Moxie]

Coric was upset by Berrer. Second event in a row he exits in the first round. Not promising at all.

Disappointing, but I think Coric has a lot of up-side.

 

[herios]

Disappointing, but I think Coric has a lot of up-side.

Yeah, at that age ( 19) every player has a lot of upside. We will see how it gioes. But since he entered the top 40, he sorta got stuck. And that is a few months ago already.

 

[Billie]

Oh Sousa, that hurts.

 

[Moxie]

Yeah, at that age ( 19) every player has a lot of upside. We will see how it gioes. But since he entered the top 40, he sorta got stuck. And that is a few months ago already.

A few months? You're pretty impatient. The last fenom teenager was Rafa. We are unlikely to see that again for some time. I'm trying to take the longer-view. A couple of years of seasoning is what it's going to take, for the most part. But I will be disappointed if they (the best amongst them) don't have some break-through moments, at least.

 

[Billie]

Come on Moxie, Berrer is 35 years old and his ranking is 121. Nothing against Berrer but Coric needs to win these kinds of matches constantly.

 

[Moxie]

Come on Moxie, Berrer is 35 years old and his ranking is 121. Nothing against Berrer but Coric needs to win these kinds of matches constantly.

Absolutely. But shall I just heap him on the pile of disappointments, at 19? I've spared a lot of years trying to be patient with the likes of Dimitrov and Nishikori, and even Tomic. I'm not going to throw Coric under the bus, for a couple of losses, when he hasn't even hit 20. Give him at least a couple of years before he becomes a disappointing prodigy, eh?

 

[britbox]

Richard Gasquet back in action.



He'll be playing Ernie. Interesting match.

 

[britbox]

Zverez will take on Cilic in one of the other featured matches of the day.

 

[britbox]

A few months? You're pretty impatient. The last fenom teenager was Rafa. We are unlikely to see that again for some time. I'm trying to take the longer-view. A couple of years of seasoning is what it's going to take, for the most part. But I will be disappointed if they (the best amongst them) don't have some break-through moments, at least.

 

[Moxie]

Zverez will take on Cilic in one of the other featured matches of the day.

Young Zverev did it! Straights in 2 TBs. Anyone see the match? I have to say, but for one brief, shining moment, it's very hard to take Cilic seriously.

 

[britbox]

I didn't see it but I'm pleased to see him go through at the expense of Cilic.

 

[britbox]

 

[britbox]

Gasquet's 6-4 6-4 win over Ernests Gulbis

 

[Billie]

Good for the youngster to get the job done in 2 tough sets. Well done Sasha.

Also good to see Richie back in action and winning his first match. Marcos won as well.