Open Occitanie: threatened with disappearance last year, the Montpellier tournament begins this Monday for a 15th edition, with a new momentum ?

Last year, the tournament broke its attendance record, with 60,000 spectators coming to the Sud de France Arena in one week. Midi Libre – Alexandre Dimou

Saved from the waters last year, the Open Occitanie begins this Monday, January 27 for a 15th edition, still promising to be exciting despite a few last-minute withdrawals.

There is one thing that few people know about Alexander Zverev and Jannik Sinner. No, the two Australian Open finalists do not both play golf, like many tennis players.

Yes, they both won their first ATP title at 19 years old. Above all, the world No. 1 and No. 2 both lifted the very beautiful trophy of the Montpellier tournament, proving that the Sud de France Arena can be a springboard to the heights of a season or a career.

But the Italian and the German almost became the last big names in current tennis to use it. The fault lies in a dispute between local authorities over the financing – in part – of an event which nevertheless attracted more than 60,000 spectators last year, a record.

Also read: The end of line judges, new name and expected players: the Open Occitanie has presented all its new features

New name, same identity

Fortunately for lovers of the little yellow ball in Hérault, the Occitanie Region and its vice-president in charge of Sports, Kamel Chibli, have stepped up to fill the €400,000 hole left by the Montpellier Metropolis after its withdrawal.

“When Kamel told me called, I had a hard time saying no to him. Because it's hard to say no to him”, smiles Stéphan Rossignol, the president of the Pays de l’Or urban community, who put his hand in his wallet, helped by the Hérault Department and its president Kléber Mesquida.

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Read also: Open Occitanie: Gasquet faces another Frenchman in the first round, tough for Cazaux… the full draw of the final table

Result of the races, the tournament will remain at the Sud de France Arena for the next three years and is now called Open Occitanie.“This year is not easier than the others, economically speaking, explains Samir Boudjemaa, CEO of the organizer, TVSports Events.Because the ATP wants an increase in prize money, hosting conditions, inflation… So it increases costs. That’s why we only signed for three years.”

A less flashy lineup than announced

On the sporting side, this 15th edition had all the makings of a perfect edition, with some very interesting names announced, such as the French nugget Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, the last eighth finalist in Australia Gaël Monfils, the colorful Corentin Moutet and the American Sebastian Korda. But not all of them will come in the end.

“There are years that are a little more difficult than others, admits Sébastien Grosjean, the tournament director.We tried to bring other players, but with the Davis Cup and those who were a little short after the Australian Open, it's complicated. But we managed to bring Rublev (9th in the world), that's very good, it shows that we are capable of bringing top 10 players on complicated weeks.”

Read also: “I would like to get closer to the top 30”: Arthur Cazaux opens up before facing Stan Wawrinka at the Open Occitanie

The presence of the Russian – who already came to Hérault in 2018 – shows that this tournament knows how to get back on its feet. Also helped by the draw, with a very enticing Wawrinka – Cazaux from the first round, and Richard Gasquet’s farewell to his audience. No need for more to give a new impetus, right?