As usual, the Montpellier tournament has a distinct French flavor in its stadium. Arthur Fils, Valentin Royer, and Ugo Humbert will be among those in the first round of the ATP 250 event on Tuesday.
Valentin Royer vs. (6) Arthur Fils
After recovering – hopefully – from a back injury, Fils will finally return to the court for the first time since the Toronto Masters last summer. The 21-year-old Frenchman has been out of action since the French Open, where he withdrew before the third round. Fils managed to win a game in Toronto before losing to Jiri Lehecka, and has not played since.
World number 42 at the Open Occitanie on Tuesday is Royer, who has never faced him. The 24-year-old Frenchman has been playing the best tennis of his career since last summer, which is why he has climbed to the 56th place. Having performed well on hard indoor courts in the past, Royer should be able to harass a rusty opponent – although it’s impossible to know exactly what we’ll see from the Fils this week.
Pick: Royer at 3
(5) Ugo Humbert vs. Botic van de Zandschulp
Humbert and Van de Zandschulp will be facing each other for the sixth time in their careers on Tuesday. It’s a nightmare for Van de Zandschulp, who has lost his last five games (four on the big tour). They have never faced each other indoors, but Humbert has won on hard courts, clay (although that is his worst face), and grass.
This Montpellier setting should give Humbert an even greater advantage, as nowhere did he work as hard throughout his career as at the courthouse at home in France. The world number 38 is playing well right now, too, having finished second a few weeks ago in Adelaide before suffering a setback at the Australian Open (losing to Ben Shelton in the first round). Van de Zandschulp is in decent form, but there is no indication that the 67th-ranked Dutchman will turn the tables on an opponent who has won 11 of his 12 sets.
Pick: Humbert at 2
