The forgotten tennis season of the fall begins this week with two European events taking place. In Metz, France, there is an indoor hard-court event while in Bucharest, Romania, there is an outdoor event on clay. None of the big names are playing this week but that should come as no surprise following a hectic summer schedule and the lack of major prize money at these two ATP World Tour 250 events.
The Open de Moselle in France is a tournament that was resurrected in 2003. Previously played every two years it disappeared from the schedule in 1988. French tennis fans have much to be excited about these days with 6 players in the top 50 in the world, and 12 players in the top 100.
Gael Monfils is the defending champion and defeated Philipp Kohlschreiber in the finals a year ago. Seeded second, he is the favorite in my opinion, especially after a strong showing in New York at the U.S. Open.
Marin Cilic is seeded first but has had such an inconsistent season that I can’t see him coming through here this week.
Other notable names include 2005 winner Ivan Ljubicic who is seeded third and fourth seeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet.
Romania hosts a rather sparse draw of clay-court talent led by top seeded Albert Montanes. Montanes captured the title a year ago and has the luxury of a first round bye. He could very well face Jeremy Chardy in the quarter-finals, a match that I believe will produce the champion in this year’s edition. Chardy could have played the hard court event in his home country of France but made the wise tactical move to enter the field in Bucharest instead.
Third seeded Potito Starace and fourth seeded Juan Ignacio Chela are also in the mix.
Looking further ahead on the ATP World Tour schedule reveals two tournaments in Asia next week in Thailand and Malaysia followed by larger events in China and Japan. The Masters event in Shanghai begins October 10th and that is where I expect we see all of the big names together again.