Wild Thursday
If you haven't already done so, it's high time to put your day down and go shopping for a quality afternoon on the sofa, or buy a ticket to see the show that will take place on the courts of the Palais des Sports in Marseille at the end of the round of 16 of the Open 13 Provence 2022.
After a doubles match between the French wild card pair Blanchet-Legout and Middelkoop (NED)-Mies (GER), Benjamin Bonzi and Pierre-Hugues Herbert will take to the Centre Court for the first singles of the day. These two players have never met on the professional circuit before. On paper, "the Bonz" has the advantage, as he is ranked 69th compared to 109th for P2H. But the truth on paper is not always the truth on the ground. And even if Benjamin Bonzi is 40 places higher than his compatriot in the rankings, Pierre-Hugues' four participations, with the bonus of a final last year, could give him that little extra something to reach the quarters.
The next part of the programme could not be more exciting, with a long-awaited and never-before-heard-of confrontation between a youngster and an old hand: Felix Auger-Aliassime and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. These are two players who have often been compared, both for their personal history linked to their mixed race, but also and above all for their respective styles of play, both of which combine spectacle and power. And make no mistake about it, the 234 seats that separate the two players literally mean nothing anymore, as Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is so good when he enters the Centre Court of the Palais de Sports in Marseille.
Then, not before 7pm, it will be the turn of the number 1 seed of the tournament to take the court. To say that Stefanos Tsitsipas is at ease on the "boards" of the Palais des Sports is an understatement. The Greek was crowned king of Marseille in 2019 and 2020. Facing him is a youngster, not from Marseille, but from Toulouse. But still, a little kid. Hugo Gaston's style of play will be the opposite of Tsitsipas's strength and that is perhaps why he will be able to derail the TGV (Tsitsipas Greek Velocity). Stefanos is still the favourite.
The day will be concluded by the opposition between Lucas Pouille and Radu Albot. After his hard-fought victory against Griekspoor and his powerful shot, the Frenchman should expect a much more defensive player. It will be up to Lucas to make the play and as he says: "I have to be prepared to make mistakes. But the prospect of reaching the quarter-finals is so intoxicating that he will give it his all.
So there are bound to be a lot of questions about the various results that will be delivered on Thursday. The only certainty is that it - Thursday - will be great!
