The first round tournament in Montpellier ends on Wednesday, when Stan Wawrinka takes on Hamad Medjedovic. Aleksandar Kovacevic, who finished second 12 months ago, faces Moise Kouame.
Hamad Medjedovic vs. (WC) Stan Wawrinka
It’s a tough match all around at the Open Occitanie for Medjedovic and Wawrinka. The two best unranked players in the field are due to face each other in the first round on Wednesday with the winner facing defending champion Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Wawrinka is coming off a strong swansong at the Australian Open, where he reached the third round before losing to Taylor Fritz. Even with plenty of time off, the 40-year-old Swiss player may feel the effects of 13 grueling sets in tennis. Medjedovic, who lost to Alex de Minaur in the second round Down Under, has won 40 hard court matches in his young career. That includes winning the NextGen ATP Finals in 2023. The 22-year-old Serb may have the upper hand in this one, especially if it turns into a tough three set.
Pick: Medjedovic at 3
(Q) Moise Kouame vs. (8) Aleksandar Kovacevic
Kovacevic was impressive last year in Montpellier, where he qualified for the top seed and upset Andrey Rublev in the semis before losing in the final 6-2, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (2) to Auger-Aliassime. The 83rd-ranked American has been on a roll so far in 2026, with a semifinal appearance in Brisbane followed by a 1-3 record in his last three tournaments – including one Challenger.
Leading Kovacevic on Wednesday was Kouame, who made his ATP debut with wins over Elias Ymer and Clement Chidekh. The 16-year-old Frenchman has been on fire to start the season, with a 12-0 overall record that includes back-to-back Futures titles (both on hard indoor courts). All the pressure is on Kovacevic in the final points to defend and face an opponent 11 years his junior. However, his experience should make a difference for a player who has never been on this type of stage.
Pick: Kovacevic at 3
