The Open 13 in
Marseille this week boasts a strong field of up-and-comers including world No. 3
Novak Djokovic, Frenchman
Richard Gasquet, Brit
Andy Murray, and
Australian Open runner-up
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Other seeds are Russian
Mikhail Youzhny, former No. 1
Juan Carlos Ferrero,
Marcos Baghdatis and
Paul-Henri Mathieu.
Djokovic opens against a qualifier, while the No. 2-seeded Gasquet will face Italian
Simone Bolelli.
Other openers of interest are (8) Mathieu against French countryman
Marc Gicquel, (5) Ferrero vs. Koream giant-killer
Hyung-Taik Lee, (6) Baghdatis vs. homecountry favorite
Arnaud Clement, (3) Youzhny vs. Croat riser
Marin Cilic, and (7) Tsonga vs. Croatian veteran Mario "Baby Goran" Ancic.
Also in the draw is unseeded Frenchman
Gilles Simon, who last year captured the title as an unseeded player, defeating the No. 7-seeded Baghdatis 6-4, 7-6(3).
