RICKY DIMON CHECKS IN ON THE MEN’S TENNIS NEWS FROM MONTPELLIER, ZAGREB, AND QUITO

Written by: Staff on 3rd February 2015

RICKY DIMON CHECKS IN ON THE MEN'S TENNIS NEWS FROM MONTPELLIER, ZAGREB, AND QUITO

epa04575439 Gael Monfils of France returns the ball to Jerzy Janowicz of Poland during their second round match at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, 22 January 2015. EPA/JULIAN SMITH AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT |

Previews and picks for the ATP week in Montpellier, Zagreb, and Quito

The Australian Open has come and gone, with the Happy Slam giving way to what is often perceived as a not-so-happy month in the tennis world. In a sense, we are in the calm after the storm. Then again, this is also the beginning of what is by far the busiest month on tour—not in terms of quality, of course, but without question in quantity.

There are a whopping 12 ATP tournaments in February, and it is all underway in Montpellier, Zagreb, and Quito.

The Open Sud de France is the cream of this week’s crop, thanks in part to a typically strong French contingent. Three of Montpellier’s top four seeds hail from the host nation: Gael Monfils, Gilles Simon, and Richard Gasquet. Monfils and Gasquet are on a collision course for the semifinals in the top half of the draw. An intriguing bottom half features Simon, Benoit Paire, Philipp Kohlschreiber, and Jerzy Janowicz.

Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany in action against Bernard Tomic of Australia during their second round match of the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament at Margaret Court Arena at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, 21 January 2015. EPA/JOE CASTRO AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

Pick: Kohlschreiber

The PBZ Zagreb Indoors might as well have been called the Marin Cilic Invitational in years past, but not this time around. The two-time defending Zagreb champion (four times overall) and 2014 U.S. Open winner is still out with a shoulder issue.

Although that will disappoint the home crowd, it could open the door for some fellow Croats. Ivo Karlovic is the top seed and could face Viktor Troicki in the semifinals. Troicki, the Sydney champion, survived a real scare on Tuesday against Illya Marchenko. Another veteran Croat to keep an eye on is Ivan Dodig. The 30-year-old reached the doubles semifinals Down Under and was extremely competitive with Kei Nishikori in the singles second round. Also in the bottom half are Gilles Muller (Sydney semifinalist, Australian Open fourth round) and Andreas Seppi (upset Roger Federer in Melbourne).

Ivan Dodig of Croatia in action against Kei Nishikori of Japan during their second round match of the Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, 22 January 2015. The Australian Open tennis tournament runs from 19 January until 01 February 2015. EPA/JULIAN SMITH AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

Pick: Dodig

There may be some growing pains for the Ecuador Open, which is in its first year and could go down as having had one of the weakest fields of 2015. If nothing else, however, it could boast what would be a somewhat intriguing all-Spanish semifinal between No. 1 seed Feliciano Lopez and third-seeded Fernando Verdasco. The bottom half of the bracket is positively wide open. Seeds Santiago Giraldo, Martin Klizan, Thomas Bellucci, and Victor Estrella Burgos all appear to be vulnerable.

Fernando Verdasco of Spain in action against Go Soeda of Japan in their second round match at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 22 January 2015. The Australian Open tennis tournament runs from 19 January until 01 February 2015. EPA/Barbara Walton

Pick: Verdasco

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: Atp, Benoit Paire, Ecuador Open, Feliciano Lopez, Fernando Verdasco, Gael Monfils, Gilles Simon, Jerzy Janowicz, Kei Nishikori, Marin Cilic, Montpellier, Philipp Kohlschreiber, Quito, Richard Gasquet, Ricky Dimon, Tennis News, Viktor Troicki, Zagreb

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10sBalls_com says:

February 3, 2015 at 8:54 am

RICKY DIMON (@Dimonator) CHECKS IN ON THE MEN’S #TENNIS NEWS FROM #MONTPELLIER, #ZAGREB, AND #QUITO- http://t.co/qDRjvC5qT9 #ATP
Dimonator says:

February 3, 2015 at 8:57 am

RT @10sBalls_com: RICKY DIMON (@Dimonator) CHECKS IN ON THE MEN’S #TENNIS NEWS FROM #MONTPELLIER, #ZAGREB, AND #QUITO- http://t.co/qDRjvC5q…