The Frenchman Eric Prodon stumbled at the last step of the qualifications against the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov (4/6, 6/1, 6/4), who with this victory earns a spot in the main draw against the Israeli Sela. The good news of the day is the presence of Gilles Simon, who was announced as doubtful, or even withdrawn by many websites, but will finally be present on “his” home turf, certainly spurred on by a Nice crowd fully supporting him. The center court is likely to be noisy!
For the other three qualifiers, it will be the Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci who defeated the Spaniard Granollers (6/2, 6/1), and the two Americans, Brian Baker who ousted the Colombian Gonzales, the defeater of Mannarino, and finally Sam Querrey who dispatched the German Stebe in two sets (6/4, 6/2).
For the three qualification winners, a tough first round awaits with the first mentioned, Bellucci, facing the American Young, the second competing against the Ukrainian Stakhovsky, and the last having a face-off with the Kazakh Kukushkin.
For Gilles Simon, it will be the winner between Sela and Dimitrov who he will face in a true test match to evaluate the minor ankle issues that nearly cost him his place in the final tournament, the real antechamber to Roland Garros.
Starting tomorrow, follow the Nice Côte d’Azur Open tennis live on the Sports Portal with results and the big match point by point, photo galleries, videos, and behind-the-scenes insights into the tournament, as well as on the Open Nice Côte d’Azur Facebook page
First round updated with players from the qualifications
1 – [1] J Isner (USA) Qualified seed
2 – X Malisse (BEL) vs. Y Lu (TPE)
3 – N Davydenko (RUS) vs. M Ebden (AUS)
4 – A Falla (COL) vs. [7] D Istomin (UZB)
5 – [4] G Monfils (FRA) Qualified seed
6 – [Q] B Baker (USA) vs. S Stakhovsky (UKR)
7 – M Kukushkin (KAZ) vs. [Q] S Querrey (USA)
8 – L Lacko (SVK) vs. [5] B Tomic (AUS)
9 – [8] F Fognini (ITA) vs. S Darcis (BEL)
10 – F Volandri (ITA) vs. O Rochus (BEL)
11 – E Roger-Vasselin (FRA) vs. [WC] B Paire (FRA)
12 – [3] N Almagro (ESP) Qualified seed
13 – [6] R Haase (NED) vs. [WC] J Ferrero (ESP)
14 – [Q] T Bellucci (BRA) vs. D Young (USA)
15 – D Sela (ISR) vs. [Q] G Dimitrov (BUL)
16 – [2] G Simon (FRA) Qualified seed
The winners of the following matches (1-2, 3-4…) will face each other in the next round
