Here it is, once again this year, the Nice Open has returned to the grounds of the Nice LTC for the 4th time since its revival in 2010. Despite the withdrawal of Czech Tomas Berdych, the number 1 seed and 6th ranked player in the world, the field remains attractive. Gilles Simon, a semifinalist here in 2012, will be one of the main highlights this week, as well as the American giant John Isner.
On the French side, the contingent was quite interesting with the participation of Gaël Monfils, who is gradually regaining his best form, and Benoit Paire, who was exceptional last week at the Rome Masters 1000. Unfortunately for the organizers, Paire decided to rest ahead of the Roland Garros, opting out at the last minute.
This Monday, the end of the qualifications and the start of the first rounds were played in Nice. The tournament did not have the easiest start, though. Over the weekend, rain heavily disrupted the beginning of the competition.
Luckily, the first rays of sunshine appeared today. Conditions remain challenging for both players and spectators. This did not prevent Guillaume Rufin (FRA), Marco Cecchinato (ITA), Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR), and Rogeiro Dutra Silva (BRA), the four players who managed to win three qualifying matches, from entering the main draw. It was the French player who opened the proceedings on the center court. He delivered a great performance this morning by defeating American Ryan Harrison, the number 1 seed in the qualifications, in two sets, 6/3 6/4.
While Dutchman Robin Haase easily handled Australian Matosevic (6/1 6/4), Taiwanese player Lu created the surprise of the day by defeating Italian Andreas Seppi, the 5th seed, in his opening match. Meanwhile, on court number 1, the 100% Argentine duel turned in favor of Carlos Berlocq, who dispatched his compatriot and doubles partner Leonardo Mayer in two sets (6.2/6/1). Berlocq, who defeated the French team in the Davis Cup quarter-finals this year, appears to be in excellent form. A model of seriousness in training, the Argentine can certainly make an impression and pull off some upsets this week.
A brief note on this year’s innovations. The Nice LTC’s center court experienced some changes, being more economical and notably smaller. Gone are the giant screens, replaced by lowered stands. The organizers chose to tighten their belts, a wise but understandable decision given the decline in spectator attendance. Nonetheless, the central court has clearly lost some of its charm. Furthermore, two matches will now be scheduled in the “night session” instead of one last year.
It was indeed the most enticing matchup, the one all spectators were waiting for, that opened the night session: Lleyton Hewitt vs. Pablo Andujar. The Australian, world number 1 in November 2001 and winner of two Grand Slam titles (Wimbledon in 2002 and the US Open in 2001), participated in the Nice Open for the first time. A true tennis legend and extremely popular, the Australian, who received a “wild card,” delivered a good fight against the Spanish player, a true specialist of the surface. Trailing 6/3 3/1, Hewitt managed to snatch the second set, boosted by the unwavering support of the Nice public. In the third set, it was the Spaniard who got off to a better start, quickly taking a 3/0 lead, a deficit Hewitt could not overcome. Although he lost in three sets, the Australian did not disappoint on a surface he never fully mastered throughout his career.
At 32 years old, and despite having fallen in the ATP rankings, Hewitt has nothing left to prove. He once again gave us a lesson in tenacity, that of a champion who never gives up.
