The Australian Open concluded on Sunday with Carlos Alcaraz completing the Grand Slam with a four-set victory over Novak Djokovic. Now it’s time for the annual title of February, which is the lowest in the ATP 250 tournaments these days but the highest in the 500s. One of the 250s takes center stage this week, as the Open Occitanie in Montpellier is the only one on the ATP calendar (the Davis Cup tournament will also be held this coming weekend). Headlining this action are Felix Auger-Aliassime, Tomas Machac, Hubert Hurkacz, and Stan Wawrinka.
It’s time to dissect the diagram and make predictions.
Open Occitanie
WhereLocation: Montpellier, France
The face: It’s hard at home
Prize moneyPrice: 612,620 Euro
Points: 250
Top seeds: Felix Auger-Aliassime
The defending champion: Felix Auger-Aliassime
Draw an analysis: The bottom half of the bracket is completely stacked. Machac and Hurkacz were joined by Flavio Cobolli, Ugo Humbert, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, and Adrian Mannarino. Humbert, Coach Perricard, and Mannarino can be especially dangerous indoors – and all three have home court advantage this week in France. Machac vs. Master Perricard and Humbert vs. Mannarino is a potential match for the second round. If it’s Machac vs. Humbert in the quarters, it will be a repeat of the recent Adelaide final (won by the Czech in three sets).
Auger-Aliassime has a very friendly approach to the Montpellier final with a high percentage of the draw. The defending champion should be in good shape as his retirement in the first round of the Aussie Open was due to congestion. While an opening match against Wawrinka or Hamad Medjedovic could be tough, for the most part Auger-Aliassime should like her chances this week. Arthur Fils could be a quarterfinal opponent for the Canadian, but Fils has been sidelined with a back injury since last summer’s Toronto Masters.
It’s hot: Tomas Machac, Arthur Gea
It’s cold: Arthur Fils, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, Adrian Mannarino, Mackenzie McDonald
Forecasts for the last quarter: Felix Auger-Aliassime over Valentin Royer, Tallon Griekspoor over Aleksandar Kovacevic, Ugo Humbert over Tomas Machac, and Hubert Hurkacz over Nikoloz Basilashvili
Semi-finalist: Auger-Aliassime over Griekspoor and Humbert over Hurkacz
Finally: Auger-Aliassime over Humbert
