Open Sud de France 2020 Montpellier Men's Singles - Predictions and Top Picks

Points: 250.

Total prize money: $542,695

When: from February 3rd to February 9th

Where: Sud de France Arena in Montpellier, France

Surface: Hard (indoor)

Out of this week’s three tournaments, the Open Sud de France arguably has the strongest field of entrants.

Some strong names such as Stan Wawrinka, Fabio Fognini and Andrey Rublev have withdrawn from the competition.

Even after that, the first European hardcourt tournament of 2020 still features plenty of good players.

1. David Goffin

2020 record: 5-2, 0 titles

2020 prize money: $376,850

2019 Open Sud de France Result: second round.

The top-seeded player for the 2020 Open Sud de France, Goffin will try to win his first ATP Tour title since 2017.

While the Belgian player has not managed to repeat the success from his career year, Goffin has managed to hang around the top 10.

Goffin reached his first Masters 1000 final last year and also finished runner-up in one ATP 500 tournament.

The veteran was in great form during the ATP Cup, defeating Rafael Nadal and former top 3 Grigor Dimitrov in straight sets.

While he arrived at the Australian Open with high expectations, the Belgian fell to a red-hot Andrey Rublev in the third round.

Given how well his early 2020 season has been going, Goffin is the favorite to lift the trophy this week.

He was eliminated in the second round of last year’s tournament.

2. Ugo Humbert

2020 record: 5-1, 1 title

2020 prize money: $376,850

2019 Open Sud de France Result: first round.

Humbert continues his rise up the ATP ranking.

The Next Gen star won his first career ATP Tour title, the ASB Classic, defeating Denis Shapovalov, John Isner and Benoit Paire along the way.

While the young Frenchman did experience a disappointing first-round elimination at the Australian Open, he remains among the favorites for this week.

Humbert will have the opportunity to play in France for the first time this year, which should also offer some additional motivation.

He was awarded a wild card entry into last year’s tournament, but lost in the first round to former top 10 and eventual champion Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

3. Denis Shapovalov

2020 record: 3-4, 0 titles

2020 prize money: $264,750

2019 Open Sud de France Result: quarterfinals.

Shapovalov’s year has seen some mixed results.

The young Canadian star scored victories in straight sets over two top 10 players, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev, at the ATP Cup.

On the other hand, he was eliminated in the second round at the ASB Classic and was upset by Marton Fucsovics in the first round at the Australian Open.

France does bring good memories to Shapovalov, as the Canadian reached the final in last year’s Paris Masters 1000.

If he shows up at the top of his game, the rising star will be one of the favorites for this week.

4. Filip Krajinovic

2020 record: 2-2, 0 titles

2020 prize money: $23,190

2019 Open Sud de France Result: quarterfinals.

Krajinovic burst onto the ATP Tour in late 2017 after reaching the Paris Masters 1000 final, having advanced from the qualifiers.

The Serb had a down year in 2018 but returned to form in 2019.

While he has yet to win a title at the ATP level, Krajinovic reached two finals last year.

Krajinovic reached the quarterfinals in last year’s Open Sud de France, upsetting David Goffin in the second round.

His 2020 season began at the Qatar Open, in which the Serb was eliminated by Fernando Verdasco in the second round.

Krajinovic managed to advance to the second round at the Australian Open but lost to Roger Federer in straight sets.

5. Gael Monfils

2020 record: 4-2, 0 titles

2020 prize money: $249,250

2019 Open Sud de France Result: Did not participate.

A last-minute wild card entry, Monfils holds the highest-ranking and is the only top 10 player among the participants.

The Frenchman is coming off the Australian Open quarterfinals, in which he lost in straight sets to eventual runner-up Dominic Thiem.

This will be his first Open Sud de France appearance since a first-round elimination in 2016.

Monfils has done reasonably well this year, defeating four opponents with a lower ranking having dropped only one set.

His other loss came against Novak Djokovic at the ATP Cup, also in straight sets.

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