Medvedev and Tsitsipas stay put
Despite the context, there will be a lot of people on the court for this 29th edition. The man in form at the moment, Daniil Medvedev, and the two-time title holder, Stefanos Tsitsipas, are once again in the running.
It is the tradition since 1993: the Open 13 Provence welcomes every year the cream of the world tennis. And even though the 2021 edition has been postponed due to the health situation, it will be no exception to the rule. Three Top 10 players are expected to take to the court at the Palais des Sports from 8 March, starting with Stefanos Tsitsipas, world number 6 and winner of the last two editions. For his 5th participation, the Greek would join Marc Rosset, Thomas Enqvist and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the restricted clan of triple winners. However, "Stef" would be the first to win three years in a row.
For his part, Daniil Medvedev is the man in form at the moment. The world number 4 finished 2020 on a high note, winning Bercy and the Masters. And he has just won the ATP Cup. The Russian, who speaks perfect French, has made two quarter-finals here, in 2017 and 2020, and will be keen to do better in Marseille.
Four former winners!
Two Italians will also be taking part: the very promising Jannik Sinner (32nd) and Matteo Berrettini (10th), the third Top 10 in the draw. The former, who caused a sensation at Roland Garros last October, has started 2021 with a title in Melbourne and is expected to do much better on the court at the Palais des Sports than his second round performance last year. Berrettini, a semi-finalist at the US Open in 2019, has had a more disappointing 2020 season. In Marseille, he never got past the second round (2019).
Karen Khachanov, winner in 2018, Marin Cilic, Kei Nishikori, Felicano Lopez, Jan Lennard Struff and Fernando Verdasco complete this promising list. On the French side, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, winner in 2009, 2013 and 2017 (a sign for 2021?), will make a long-awaited comeback after an almost empty 2020 season. Gilles Simon, semi-finalist last year, will be playing, like Tsitsipas, for a potential third place after his titles in 2007 and 2015. Finally, Ugo Humbert, who impressed last year, should confirm the momentum that allowed him to win his first two titles in 2020.
So who will succeed Stefanos Tsitsipas?
See you on 8 March?
