Interesting starts for (1) Sock against the Haas-Opelka winner, (6) Lopez vs. the former French juniors winner Fratangelo, (4) Johnson vs. the experienced dirt-baller and defending champ Monaco, (5) Verdasco vs. the big-serving South African Anderson, and (8) Bellucci vs. the emerging American Tiafoe

Thiem the only Top 10er, and Dimitrov must have received a chunk as he decided to return to his home-country tournament in 2017 after a perceived diss last year…

(8) Granollers starts against Hot Sauce, (5) Kohlschreiber vs. Fognini, and (6) Muller vs. Dolgopolov…(2) Cuevas looking at a tough encounter with Mahut 2nd rd…

.(1) Cuevas could have a difficult start against G-Lo, and (6) Carreno Busta “Rhymes” starts against the veteran Seppi…

Rafael Nadal (currently injured) beat Fognini in last year’s final…Leo Mayer (2014) is the only former champ in the field.

No Top 20 players, but Istanbul you do have Bernie “The Tank Engine” Tomic! For at least a round…

Kei Nishikoi beat Santiago Giraldo in last year’s final…Returning former champs in the final are Nishikori (2014), Nadal (2013-11,’09-05), Verdasco (2010) and Robredo (2004).

The Bryan brothers, coming off the Miami Open title, are the top seeds in doubles…The tournament celebrates its 15th year in Houston after moving about in the U.S. since 1910…Former champs in the field are Verdasco (2014), Isner (2013), and Hewitt (2009).

The stars are coming out on week one, even uncharacteristically on the women’s side, as current No. 1 Novak Djokovic and former top dogs Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Lleyton Hewitt, Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic compete at four events in week one of 2015.

Notes: Potential tough starts for (8) Granollers against the Ginepri-Mathieu winner, (6) Sousa vs. the explosive Janowicz, and (16) Johnson vs. his American compatriot Querrey…Wildcards went to South African Kevin Anderson and Americans Ginepri, Ryan Harrison and Wimbledon boys’ winner Noah Rubin…Notable withdrawals from the tournament include Wimbledon doubles winners Vasek Pospisil and Jack Sock, and Dmitry Tursunov…Jurgen Melzer beat Gael Monfils in last year’s final…Returning former champs in the field are Melzer (2013) and Isner (2012-11).

Notes: Solid field with four Top 10ers and two unseeded Slam champs…The Top 4 seeds receive opening round byes, with tough starts for (5) Ivanovic vs. Lisicki, (4) Azarenka after a bye likely vs. (WC) Venus, (3) Kerber likely vs. Vandeweghe, (7) Suarez Navarro vs. Puig, and (2) Radwanska likely vs. Garcia…Wildcards went to Americans Kristie Ahn and Venus, and Azarenka…Pulling from the tournament were Sara Errani and Petra Kvitova…Cibulkova beat Radwanska in last year’s final…Venus is 2-4 in Stanford finals…Martina Navratilova (5-4) has reached the most Stanford finals in the tournament’s history…Returning champs in the field are Cibulkova (2013), Serena Williams (2012-11), Azarenka (2010), and Venus Williams (2002,’00).

Wimbledon winners Sock and Vasek Pospisil are the top seeds in the doubles with no Bryan brothers in the draw…Other notable pulls from the event were Richard Gasquet, Lleyton Hewitt, Ivo Karlovic, American Bradley Klahn and Dmitry Tursunov…Isner (2013) is the lone returning former champ in the field.

Notes: All 16 seeds receive opening-round byes in the 48-player draw…Dolgopolov has not won a match at Hamburg in three attempts, and fellow seeds Youzhny, Kohlschreiber, Granollers and Giraldo also have losing records in the ‘burg…Tough potential starts for (16) Seppi vs. Monaco, (4) Dolgopolov vs. Janowicz, (7) Kohlschreiber vs. Montanes, and (14) Sousa vs. Rosol…107th edition of the event…

Wildcards went to Azarenka and Brits Heather Watson and Johanna Konta…Pulling from the event were Svetlana Kuznetsova and Sorana Cirstea…Tough starts go to (5) Kerber vs. Riske, (4) Azarenka vs. Giogi, (8) Wozniacki vs. Stosur, and (2) Kvitova vs. Safarova…Returning former champs in the field are Wozniacki (2009) and Radwanksa (2008).

Potential tough starts for (1) Isner after a bye vs. compatriot (Q) Sock, and (2) Gulbis after a bye vs. the giant-killer Klizan…Isner has a 1-2 career record in Nice…This is the 30th anniversary of the Nice tournament…