sign in sign up
<<
Home , 2006 Open de Moselle, ATP Race, Colin Fleming, Fabrice Martin, Frederik Nielsen, Julien Benneteau

: PREVIEW & DAY 1 MEDIA NOTES Monday, September 19, 2016

Les Arénes de Metz, Metz, | September 19-25, 2016 Draw: S-28, D-16 | Prize Money: €463,520 | Surface: Indoor Hard

ATP World Tour Info Tournament Info ATP PR & Marketing www.ATPWorldTour.com www.Moselle-Open.com Stephanie Natal: [email protected] Twitter: @ATPWorldTour Twitter: @MoselleOpen Press Room: +33 372 60 5850 Facebook: @ATPWorldTour Facebook: @MoselleOpen

MOSELLE OPEN TALKING POINTS

 TOURNAMENT PREVIEW: The 14th Moselle Open begins Monday and features a contingent of eight Frenchmen before the conclusion of qualifying bidding to become the tournament’s ninth homegrown champion.

Leading the field for France is No. 3 seed , who is a career-high No. 18 in this week’s Emirates ATP Rankings after falling as low as No. 91 in February. Pouille reached quarter-finals at Wimbledon and the US Open, highlighted by the biggest victory of his career over then-No. 5 in a fifth-set tiebreak on Stadium. The 22-year-old became the first player in three years to win three consecutive five-set matches, edging Nadal, and en route to the US Open quarter-finals.

While Pouille seeks the first title of his career, No. 4 seed and No. 7 seed Benoit Paire are hoping to reach their first finals of the season respectively. Simon is a two-time Metz champion, capturing the 2010 and 2013 titles before falling to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in last year’s final. Another Frenchman, No. 8 seed , has won three Metz doubles titles and risen to No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Doubles Rankings. The 34-year- old veteran is also having a superb singles season. His 20 singles wins are two shy of his previous best (22 in 2007) and his current singles ranking of No. 40 is three spots below his career-high (No. 37 on May 5, 2014).

The Top 2 seeds are of Austria and of Belgium. Thiem’s debut in Metz will mark his 22nd tournament of 2016, highlighted by 52 wins (3rd on ATP World Tour) and four titles (T-2nd on tour). The 2014 Metz champion Goffin returns with a 4-4 record since Wimbledon. Among other players in the field are former Metz finalists Paul-Henri Mathieu and , who both got married on September 10.

The Moselle Open is an important event in the Emirates ATP Race to , with the Top 8 singles players and doubles teams qualifying for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. A maximum of 3,750 Emirates ATP Ranking points are on the line over the next seven weeks before the season finale in London November 13-20. Thiem, Goffin and Pouille are battling for five remaining spots in singles. Frenchmen and Edouard Roger-Vasselin, the No. 1 doubles seeds in Metz, are in contention for one of four remaining spots in doubles.

EMIRATES ATP RACE TO LONDON Position Player Points Barclays ATP World Tour Finals 1 * 10,240 27-10: 5 titles in 9 appearances (2008, 2012-15) 2 * 8,185 11-11: 3 semi-finals in 7 appearances (2008, 2010, 2012) 3 * 4,820 6-6: 2013-15 Semi-finalist 4 4,420 0-2: 2014 Round Robin 5 4,315 3-4: 2014 Semi-finalist, 2015 Round Robin 6 Gael Monfils 3,355 Never Qualified 7 Dominic Thiem 3,205 Never Qualified 8 Rafael Nadal 3,200 16-12: 2 finals in 7 appearances (2010, 2013) 11 David Goffin 2,140 Never Qualified 15 Lucas Pouille 1,759 Never Qualified * Qualified for Barclays ATP World Tour Finals (5 spots remain) Bold: Player in Moselle Open draw Moselle Open Day 1 – Monday, September 19, 2016 Page 2 of 5 www.ATPWorldTour.com

EMIRATES ATP DOUBLES RACE TO LONDON Position Team Points Barclays ATP World Tour Finals 1 Pierre-Hugues Herbert/Nicolas Mahut* 7,075 1-2: 2015 Round Robin 2 /* 6,800 Never Qualified as a Team 3 /* 5,530 35-20: 4-time Champions 4 / 4,130 8-5: 2014 Finalists 5 Feliciano Lopez/Marc Lopez* 3,990 Never Qualified as a Team 6 / 3,065 Never Qualified as a Team 7 / 3,050 Never Qualified as a Team 8 / 2,710 Never Qualified as a Team 10 Julien Benneteau/Edouard Roger-Vasselin 2,100 2-2: 2014 Semi-finalists 15 / 1,865 Never Qualified as a Team 17 Mate Pavic/ 1,750 Never Qualified as a Team * Qualified for Barclays ATP World Tour Finals (4 spots remain) Bold: Team in Moselle Open draw

 DAY 1 PREVIEW: Two singles and two doubles matches make up the main draw schedule on opening day at the Moselle Open. No. 5 seed Martin Klizan faces French Julien Benneteau on Court Patrice Dominguez, followed by No. 6 seed Gilles Muller against . Despite missing 10 weeks this season due to right foot inflammation, Klizan won ATP World Tour 500 titles at and Hamburg. Benneteau, too, has struggled with injuries of late. The 34-year-old veteran is 5-12 in singles this season after undergoing abductor surgery on June 9, 2015. Among the four teams in doubles action are No. 2 seeds Oliver Marach and Fabrice Martin. The Austrian and Frenchman are in the Emirates ATP Doubles Race to London thanks to titles at Chennai and Delray Beach and a runner-up finish at Stuttgart.

EMIRATES ATP RANKING POINTS AND PRIZE MONEY

Moselle Open W F SF QF R16 R32 Singles Ranking Points 250 150 90 45 20* 0 Singles Prize Money (€) 82,450 43,430 23,525 13,400 7,900 4,680 Doubles Ranking Points 250 150 90 45 0 --- Doubles Prize Money (€) 25,070 13,170 7,140 4,080 2,390 * Singles players who receive first-round byes and lose in the second round earn 0 points.

WHO TO WATCH THIS WEEK

SINGLES

SEED PLAYER W-L BEST FINISH 1 Dominic Thiem (AUT) 0-0 Debuting 2 David Goffin (BEL) 5-0 2014 Champion 3 Lucas Pouille (FRA) 0-0 Debuting 4 Gilles Simon (FRA) 12-5 2010, 2013 Champion 5 Martin Klizan (SVK) 3-1 2015 Semi-finalist 6 Gilles Muller (LUX) 7-5 2011 Semi-finalist 7 Benoit Paire (FRA) 2-3 2011-12 2nd Round 8 Nicolas Mahut (FRA) 13-12 2007, 2013 Semi-finalist

QUALIFIERS (4) OLDEST PLAYER YOUNGEST PLAYER TBD on Monday Julien Benneteau (FRA) (FRA) 34 years, 9 months 19 years, 11 months

Moselle Open Day 1 – Monday, September 19, 2016 Page 3 of 5 www.ATPWorldTour.com

WILD CARDS (3) TOP COUNTRY BREAKDOWN Julien Benneteau (FRA) France 8, Spain 4, Germany 2 Quentin Halys (FRA) (ESP)

DOUBLES

SEED TEAM W-L BEST FINISH Benneteau: 9-3 Benneteau: 2003 Champion 1 Julien Benneteau/Edouard Roger-Vasselin Roger-Vasselin: 12-1 Roger-Vasselin: 2012, 2015 Champion Marach: 0-4 Marach: 2007, 2013-15 1st Round 2 Oliver Marach/Fabrice Martin Martin: 0-1 Martin: 2015 1st Round Pavic: 0-1 Pavic: 2015 1st Round 3 Mate Pavic/Michael Venus Venus: 0-2 Venus: 2014-15 1st Round Lindstedt: 2-2 Lindstedt: 2004 Semi-finalist 4 /Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi Qureshi: 1-1 Qureshi: 2015 Quarter-finalist

PAST FINALISTS

SINGLES

YEAR CHAMPION RUNNER-UP SCORE 2015 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) Gilles Simon (FRA) 7-6(5), 1-6, 6-2 2014 David Goffin (BEL) Joao Sousa (POR) 6-4, 6-3 2013 Gilles Simon (FRA) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) 6-4, 6-3 2012 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) Andreas Seppi (ITA) 6-1. 6-2 2011 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-3 2010 Gilles Simon (FRA) (GER) 6-3, 6-2 2009 Gael Monfils (FRA) (GER) 7-6(1), 3-6, 6-2 2008 (RUS) Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA) 7-6(6), 1-6, 6-4 2007 Tommy Robredo (ESP) Andy Murray (GBR) 0-6, 6-2, 6-3 2006 Novak Djokovic (SRB) Jurgen Melzer (AUT) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 2005 Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) Gael Monfils (FRA) 7-6(7), 6-0 2004 Jerome Haehnel (FRA) (FRA) 7-6(9), 6-4 2003 Arnaud Clement (FRA) Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) 6-3, 1-6, 6-3

BOLD: Players in 2016 singles draw

DOUBLES

YEAR CHAMPION RUNNER-UP SCORE 2015 Lukasz Kubot/Edouard Roger-Vasselin Pierre-Hugues Herbert/Nicolas Mahut 2-6, 6-3, [10-7] 2014 / /Henri Kontinen 6-7(3), 6-3, [10-8] 2013 Johan Brunstrom/Raven Klaasen Nicolas Mahut/Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4, 7-6(5) 2012 Nicolas Mahut/Edouard Roger-Vasselin Johan Brunstrom/ 7-6(3), 6-4 2011 Jamie Murray/Andre Sa Lukas Dlouhy/Marcelo Melo 6-4, 7-6(7) 2010 /Rogier Wassen Marcelo Melo/Bruno Soares 6-3, 6-3 2009 / Arnaud Clement/Michael Llodra 2-6, 6-4, [10-5] 2008 Arnaud Clement/Michael Llodra Mariusz Fyrstenberg/Marcin Matkowski 5-7, 6-3, [10-8] 2007 Arnaud Clement/Michael Llodra Mariusz Fyrstenberg/Marcin Matkowski 6-1, 6-4 2006 Richard Gasquet/ /Jurgen Melzer 3-6, 6-1, [11-9] 2005 Michael Llodra/Fabrice Santoro Jose Acasuso/Sebastian Prieto 5-2, 3-5, 5-4(4) 2004 Arnaud Clement/Nicolas Mahut Ivan Ljubicic/Uros Vico 6-2, 7-6(8) 2003 Julien Benneteau/Nicolas Mahut Michael Llodra/Fabrice Santoro 7-6(2), 6-3

BOLD: Players in 2016 doubles draw Moselle Open Day 1 – Monday, September 19, 2016 Page 4 of 5 www.ATPWorldTour.com

FEDEX ATP HEAD 2 HEADS: DAY 1 MAIN DRAW FIRST-ROUND MATCHES

COURT PATRICE DOMINGUEZ

[5] Martin Klizan (SVK) vs [WC] Julien Benneteau (FRA) First Meeting

Klizan 2016 FastFacts W: Rotterdam (d. Monfils); Hamburg (d. Cuevas); SF: Sofia (l. to Troicki) YTD W-L: 14-10 (8-7 on hard) YTD Titles: 2 / Career Titles: 5 Date of Birth: July 11, 1989 Emirates ATP Ranking: 31 Metz W-L (Best Result): 3-1 (2015 Semi-finalist)

• Improved to 5-0 in singles finals with ATP World Tour 500 titles at Rotterdam (d. Monfils) and Hamburg (d. Cuevas) • En route to Rotterdam title, saved 5 MPs in QF win over Bautista Agut and 3 MPs in SF win over Mahut • His 8 MPs saved were most en route to a title since Mantilla saved 9 MPs at 2001 Palermo – all vs. Portas in SF • Held 5 MPs against countryman Martin in Umag 2R before falling 36 75 62 • Now 8-0 in doubles w/Marrero, beating Mektic/Sancic for 2nd Umag title with Spaniard (also 2013) • Retired in Sydney 1R (left shoulder), Indian Wells 2R (right foot inflammation) and Roland Garros 1R (neck pain) • Missed 10 weeks following ATP Masters 1000 Indian Wells due to right foot inflammation

Benneteau 2016 FastFacts QF: Los Cabos (l. to Lopez) YTD W-L: 5-12 (4-8 on hard) YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 0 Date of Birth: December 20, 1981 Emirates ATP Ranking: 238 Metz W-L (Best Result): 3-4 (2004, 2006-07 2nd Round)

• Advanced to 1st ATP World Tour singles QF since 2015 Sydney at Los Cabos (l. to Lopez) • Snapped 11-match singles losing streak at Wimbledon (d. Marchenko, l. to No. 6 Nishikori) • Qualified at Marseille by beating Fabbiano and Lamasine (l. to A. Zverev in 1R) • In doubles w/Roger-Vasselin, fell to Herbert/Mahut at Wimbledon in 1st All-French men’s doubles final of Open Era. Defeated 4 seeded teams, including 5-set wins over Pospisil/Sock (saved 2 MPs) and J. Murray/Soares • Beat Pospisil/Sock w/Roger-Vasselin then held 6 MPs in Roland Garros QF loss to Lopez/Lopez • Returned after abductor surgery and won Noumea, CAL Challenger title w/Roger-Vasselin (d. Barrere/Lamasine) • Withdrew from Sydney due to groin injury

Horacio Zeballos (ARG) vs [6] Gilles Muller (LUX) First Meeting

Zeballos 2016 FastFacts QF: Atlanta (l. to Nishioka) YTD W-L: 7-12 (6-4 on hard) YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 1 Date of Birth: April 27, 1985 Emirates ATP Ranking: 66 Metz W-L (Best Result): 0-1 (2010 1st Round)

Moselle Open Day 1 – Monday, September 19, 2016 Page 5 of 5 www.ATPWorldTour.com

• Replaced Federer as LL at Miami and reached 4R of an ATP Masters 1000 for 1st time (l. to Goffin) • Capitalized on 1R bye in Miami, defeated del Potro 64 64 and saved 1 MP to beat Verdasco 76 in 3rd • Advanced to 1st ATP singles QF since 2014 São Paulo at Atlanta (d. Garcia-Lopez and Kamke, l. to Nishioka) • Snapped 7-match losing streak in Grand Slam main draws by reaching US Open 2R (d. F. Mayer, l. to Kyrgios) • Secured 14th and 15th Challenger titles at Poprad, SVK (d. G. Melzer) and Båstad, SWE (d. Carballes Baena) • Reached Mestre, ITA Challenger singles final (l. to Elias) • Teamed w/Peralta to win ATP doubles titles at São Paulo (d. Carreño Busta/Duran) and Gstaad (d. Pavic/Venus), as well as Challenger doubles titles at Bucaramanga, COL (d. Galdos/Martinez) and Genova, ITA (d. Bury/Vasilevski) • Added 3rd ATP doubles title of season with 1st-time partner Molteni at Atlanta (d. Brunstrom/Siljestrom) • Retired in São Paulo 1R vs. Schwartzman (dehydration) and withdrew from Winston-Salem (neck)

Muller 2016 FastFacts F (2): ’s-Hertogenbosch (l. to Mahut); Newport (l. to Karlovic); SF (3): Sydney (l. to Dimitrov); Sofia (l. to Bautista Agut); (l. to Cuevas); QF: London/Queen's Club (l. to Tomic) YTD W-L: 27-19 (14-12 on hard) YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 0 Date of Birth: May 9, 1983 Emirates ATP Ranking: 37 Metz W-L (Best Result): 7-5 (2011 Semi-finalist)

• Snapped 7-match losing streak in SFs to reach 1st final since 2012 at ’s-Hertogenbosch (d. Karlovic, l. to Mahut) • Also advanced to Newport final, falling to Karlovic 67(2) 76(5) 76(12) after holding 3 MPs • Saved 10 MPs to beat Isner 36 76(16) 76(7) in London/Queen’s Club 2R (l. to Tomic in QF) • Tied Schuettler (2004 Kitzbühel 2R) for most MPs on record saved by winner since Panatta (11) in 1976 1R • Advanced to SFs at Sydney (d. Thiem in 2R, l. to Dimitrov), Sofia (l. to Bautista Agut) and Nottingham (l. to Cuevas) • Flagbearer for LUX at Rio Olympics (d. Janowicz after saving 2 MPs and No. 9 Tsonga, l. to Bautista Agut in 3R) • Rallied from 2 sets down, hit career-high 51 aces, saved 4 MPs vs. Giraldo in Wimbledon 1R (l. to Kuznetsov in 2R) • Withdrew from Estoril due to wrist injury

FEDEX ATP HEAD 2 HEADS: REMAINING FIRST-ROUND MATCHES

Damir Dzumhur (BIH) vs Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) Garcia-Lopez Leads 2-0 15 () Hard R16 Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-1 6-1 16 Winston-Salem (U.S.A.) Hard R64 Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 7-6(0) 6-1

Malek Jaziri (TUN) vs Ivan Dodig (CRO) First Tour-Level Meeting Other Meeting: 15 Rennes CH (France) Hard SF 6-7(5) 6-3 7-6(3)

Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA) vs Dustin Brown (GER) First Meeting

Pierre-Hugues Herbert (FRA) vs Iñigo Cervantes (ESP) First Tour-Level Meeting Other Meetings: 14 Mouilleron Le Captif CH (France) Hard R32 Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-2 6-1 15 Wimbledon Q () Grass Q3 Pierre-Hugues Herbert 4-6 6-4 6-3 5-7 7-5

[8] Nicolas Mahut (FRA) vs [WC] Quentin Halys (FRA) First Meeting

Illya Marchenko (UKR) vs Andreas Seppi (ITA) Series Tied 1-1 10 Eastbourne (Great Britain) Grass R32 6-4 6-4 16 Rio Olympics (Brazil) Hard R64 Andreas Seppi 6-3 3-6 7-6(6)

Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) vs [WC] Tommy Robredo (ESP) First Meeting