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OPEN DE CÔTE D’AZUR: DAY 4 MEDIA NOTES Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Nice Lawn Club, Nice, | May 15-21, 2016 Draw: S-28, D-16 | Prize Money: €463,520 | Surface: Clay

ATP World Tour Info Tournament Info ATP PR & Marketing www.ATPWorldTour.com www.opennicecotedazur.com Nanette Duxin: [email protected] Twitter: @ATPWorldTour Twitter: @OpenNCA Press Room: TBD Facebook: ATP World Tour Facebook: Open de Nice Côte d’Azur

THIEM-MAYER MEET IN REMATCH OF 2015 FINAL, SIMON MAKES RETURN

 DAY 4 PREVIEW: There are four second round matches on Wednesday’s schedule at the Open de Nice Côte d’Azur, leading off on Centre Court with Next Generation star No. 8 seed against , who won the previous meeting last month in three sets at ATP Masters 1000 Monte-Carlo. In the next match on, Paul-Henri Mathieu brings a 4-1 -to-head advantage against No. 7 seed . Mathieu is trying to reach his third ATP World Tour quarter-final of the season and first in Nice since 2013. Seppi is looking to advance to his second quarter-final this year and first in Nice. In the third match on, the youngest player in the Top 100 Emirates ATP Rankings, 18-year-old , another Next Gen member, squares off with No. 2 seed for the first time. Fritz, ranked No. 72, won his first clay court match in his ATP World Tour clay tournament on Monday. Simon is trying to reach the quarter-finals in Nice for the fourth time in as many appearances. In the final match on, top seed and reigning champion takes on Argentine in a repeat of last year’s exciting final, won by the Austrian in a third set tie-break. In their last meeting at this year’s , Thiem won a fourth set tie-break. Overall, Thiem has a 2-1 head-to-head edge. Thiem is second on the ATP World Tour this season with 32 match wins (behind Djokovic-37).

WEDNESDAY FEDEX ATP HEAD 2 HEADS: In Order of Play

CENTRE COURT

[8] Alexander Zverev (GER) vs Marcel Granollers (ESP) Granollers Leads 1-0 16 ATP Masters 1000 Monte Carlo (Monaco) Clay R32 Marcel Granollers 6-4 4-6 6-3

Zverev 2016 FastFacts: SF(2): Montpellier (l Mathieu); (l Thiem); QF: Rotterdam (l Monfils) YTD W-L: 18-12 (8-4 on clay) YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 0 Date of Birth: April 20, 1997 Emirates ATP Ranking: 48 Nice W-L (Best Result): 1-0 (2016 2nd Round)

• Tournament Note: The No. 2 German (behind No. 26 Kohlschreiber) made his Nice debut on Monday, defeating fellow Next Gen star 57 75 ret. (left ankle). Trying to reach fourth QF of season • Reached SFs at Montpellier (d. Vanni in 1R after saving 1 MP, l. to Mathieu) and Munich (l. to Thiem) • Set career-highs this season in wins (17) and ranking (No. 43 on May 2) • Beat Dimitrov and Simon en route to ATP Masters 1000 Indian Wells 4R (l. to No. 5 Nadal after holding 1 MP) • Advanced to Rotterdam QF (d. Simon 76 in 3rd, l. to Monfils) and 3R (d. Bellucci, l. to Jaziri) • Appeared in 2nd ATP doubles final with older brother Mischa at Montpellier (l. to Pavic/Venus) • In debut, fell to No. 7 Berdych in 4h, 20m and Rosol in deciding rubber (CZE d. GER 3-2)

Open de Nice Côte d’Azur Day 4 – Wednesday, May 18, 2016 Page 2 of 4 www.ATPWorldTour.com

Granollers 2016 FastFacts: QF(2): ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Monte Carlo (l Monfils); Istanbul (l Karlovic) YTD W-L: 10-12 (6-6 on clay) YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 4 Date of Birth: April 12, 1986 Emirates ATP Ranking: 58 Nice W-L (Best Result): 1-0 (2016 2nd Round)

• Tournament Note: The 30-year-old Spaniard made his tournament debut on Tuesday, defeating 2012 finalist 63 61. Trying to reach third ATP World Tour quarter-final of season • Advanced to QFs at ATP Masters 1000 Monte-Carlo as LL (d. Goffin, l. to Monfils) and Istanbul (l. to Karlovic). Replaced countryman Ferrer and became 1st to reach Monte-Carlo QF in tourn. history • 2R at ATP Masters 1000s in Indian Wells (l. to Murray), Miami (l. to Goffin) and (l. to Sousa) • Captured 4th ATP Challenger Tour title at Irving, USA (d. Giraldo, M. Zverev, Rosol, Dodig and Bedene) • In doubles w/Cuevas, reached Barcelona final (l. to Bryan/Bryan) and Australian Open SF (l. to Nestor/Stepanek)

Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA) vs [7] Andreas Seppi (ITA) Mathieu Leads 4-1 06 ATP Masters 1000 Indian Wells (U.S.A.) Hard R128 Paul-Henri Mathieu 2-6 6-4 6-1 06 ATP Masters 1000 (France) Hard R64 Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-2 6-4 07 Gstaad (Switzerland) Clay F Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-7(1) 6-4 7-5 09 Sydney (Australia) Hard R32 Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-2 2-6 6-3 13 Dubai (U.A.E.) Hard R32 Andreas Seppi 6-3 7-5

Mathieu 2016 FastFacts: F: Montpellier (l Gasquet); QF: Marrakech (l Coric) YTD W-L: 9-8 (4-4 on clay) YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 4 Date of Birth: January 12, 1982 Emirates ATP Ranking: 67 Nice W-L (Best Result): 4-2 (QF 2013)

• Tournament Note: The 34-year-old Frenchman opened on Tuesday with a 76 63 win over Hyeon Chung. He is making his third appearance in Nice, reaching QF in 2013 debut (l. to Montanes) and losing in 1R two years ago (l. to Delbonis). Trying to reach third ATP World Tour quarter-final of season • Fell short of 1st ATP title since 2007 with loss in Montpellier final (d. Paire in 2R, l. to No. 10 Gasquet) • On a 5-match losing streak in finals (4-6) and 22-match losing streak vs. Top 10 opponents (10-59) • Beat Ramos-Viñolas and M. Gonzalez to advance to Marrakech QF (l. to Coric in 3 sets) • Saved 1 MP in 63 46 76(7) win over Ramos-Viñolas in Doha 1R (l. to Chardy in 2R) • Fell to 1-9 in Challenger finals with 3-set loss to Rublev in Quimper, FRA championship match • Withdrew from ATP Masters 1000 Madrid qualifying due to left foot pain

Seppi 2016 FastFacts: QF: Sofia (l Klizan) YTD W-L: 9-9 (2-2 on clay) YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 3 Date of Birth: February 21, 1984 Emirates ATP Ranking: 41 Nice W-L (Best Result): 3-3 (2010-11, 2016 2nd Round)

• Tournament Note: The 32-year-old Italian opened on Tuesday with a 67 75 64 win over Munoz de la Nava to even his career record at 3-3 in Nice. Also reached 2R in 2010-11. Trying to reach first quarter-final in Nice and second this season on ATP World Tour (Sofia in February) • Advanced to Australian Open 3R for 3rd time in career (l. to eventual champion Djokovic) • Made 43rd consecutive appearance in a main draw • Reached 2R at ATP Masters 1000s in Indian Wells (l. to Isner), Miami (l. to Dolgopolov) and Rome (l. to Gasquet) • Helped to 5-0 sweep of Switzerland in Davis Cup 1R (d. Laaksonen, w/Bolelli d. Chiudinelli/Laaksonen) • Captured 1st ATP World Tour doubles title in 7th final at Dubai w/Bolelli (d. Lopez/Lopez after saving 2 MPs) • Withdrew from ATP Masters 1000 Madrid due to hip injury Open de Nice Côte d’Azur Day 4 – Wednesday, May 18, 2016 Page 3 of 4 www.ATPWorldTour.com

Taylor Fritz (USA) vs [2] Gilles Simon (FRA) First Meeting

Fritz 2016 FastFacts: F: Memphis (l Nishikori); QF: (l Querrey) YTD W-L: 8-6 (1-0 on clay) YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 0 Date of Birth: October 28, 1997 Emirates ATP Ranking: 72 Nice W-L (Best Result): 1-0 (2016 2nd Round)

• Tournament Note: The 18-year-old American made a successful tournament and main draw clay court debut on Monday, defeating 76 64. Trying to reach his third ATP World Tour quarter-final of season • Advanced 1st ATP final in 3rd tour-level event at Memphis as WC (d. Berankis in 3 sets, l. to No. 7 Nishikori). At 18 years, 109 days, became youngest ATP finalist since Nishikori won 2008 Delray Beach (18 years, 50 days). Also youngest American in an ATP final since 17-year-old Chang won 1989 Wembley • Advanced to 2nd ATP QF at Acapulco as Q (d. Chardy and Estrella Burgos, l. to Querrey) • Youngest player in Top 100 of Emirates ATP Rankings, rising to career-high No. 69 on April 11 • Rallied from 0-4 down in 3rd to beat M. Zverev and qualify for 1st major at Australian Open (l. to Sock in 1R) • Started season by capturing 3rd ATP Challenger Tour title at Happy Valley, AUS (d. Sela). Has 9-3 record

Simon 2016 FastFacts: QF(2): ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Miami (l Goffin); Estoril (l Carreno Busta) YTD W-L: 14-10 (6-3 on clay) YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 12 Date of Birth: December 27, 1984 Emirates ATP Ranking: 18 Nice W-L (Best Result): 5-3 (2012, 2014 Semi-finalist)

• Tournament Note: The 31-year-old Frenchman is making his fourth tournament appearance (5-3 record) and his best result is semi-finals in 2012 (l. to eventual champion Almagro) and in 2014 (l. to Delbonis). Also quarter-finalist in 2013 (l. to Andujar). Trying to reach third quarter-final of season • Advanced to Australian Open 4R for 3rd time (d. Donskoy in 5 sets, l. to No. 1 Djokovic in 5 sets). Pushed Djokovic to 100 unforced errors over 4 hours, 32 minutes in loss • Reached QFs at ATP Masters 1000 Miami (d. Cilic in 3R, l. to Goffin) and Estoril (l. to Carreño Busta) • Beat Baghdatis and Carreño Busta en route to ATP Masters 1000 Madrid 3R (l. to No. 2 Murray) • Helped France to 5-0 sweep of Canada in Davis Cup 1R with straight-set win over Pospisil • As defending champion, held 3 MPs vs. Gabashvili in 1R before losing 76 in 3rd

[1] Dominic Thiem (AUT) vs Leonardo Mayer (ARG) Thiem Leads 2-1 14 (Germany) Clay R16 Leonardo Mayer 6-3 6-2 15 Nice (France) Clay F Dominic Thiem 6-7(8) 7-5 7-6(2) 16 Australian Open (Australia) Hard R128 Dominic Thiem 6-2 7-6(6) 4-6 7-6(0) Other meeting: 14 ATP Masters 1000 Madrid Q () Clay -- Dominic Thiem 6-7(6) 6-2 6-4

Thiem 2016 FastFacts: W(2): Buenos Aires (d Almagro); Acapulco (d Tomic); F: Munich (l Kohlschreiber); SF(2): Brisbane (l Federer); Rio de Janeiro (l Pella); QF: ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Rome (l Nishikori) YTD W-L: 32-10 (16-5 on clay) YTD Titles: 2 / Career Titles: 5 Date of Birth: September 3, 1993 Emirates ATP Ranking: 15 Nice W-L (Best Result): 6-1 (2015 Champion)

Open de Nice Côte d’Azur Day 4 – Wednesday, May 18, 2016 Page 4 of 4 www.ATPWorldTour.com

• Tournament Note: The 22-year-old reigning champion is making his third straight appearance in Nice (6-1 record). Last year came in ranked No. 42 and only set he lost came in final where he rallied from a set down to beat Mayer 67 75 76 for maiden ATP World Tour title. Made debut two years ago and reached 2R (d. Johnson, l. to Simon) • Attempting to reach seventh quarter-final or better this season on ATP World Tour • Captured 5th career title -- 1st ATP World Tour 500 – by beating Tomic in Acapulco final • Saved 1 MP in Buenos Aires 2R (d. Elias) and SF (d. No. 5 Nadal 76 in 3rd) en route to title (d. Almagro 76 in 3rd) • Runner-up at Munich (l. to Kohlschreiber 76 in 3rd), snapping 5-match win streak in finals • Rose to career-high No. 13 in Emirates ATP Rankings on March 7 • Reached Australian Open 3R (l. to Goffin) and Indian Wells 4R (l. to No. 9 Tsonga) for 1st time in career • Converted 3 of 39 BPs in losses to No. 1 Djokovic at Miami, No. 5 Nadal at Monte-Carlo and del Potro at Madrid • Earned 1st 3 Davis Cup victories of career to lead Austria to 4-1 win over Portugal in Europe/Africa Zone Group I, beating Elias 76 in 5th, rallying from 2 sets down w/Peya to defeat Elias/Sousa, and clinching tie over Sousa • Retired down 76(2) 22 in Sydney 2R against Muller due to blisters

Mayer 2016 FastFacts: QF(2): Doha (l Djokovic); Estoril (l Almagro) YTD W-L: 10-10 (4-4 on clay) YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 1 Date of Birth: May 15, 1987 Emirates ATP Ranking: 51 Nice W-L (Best Result): 9-4 (2015 Finalist)

• Tournament Note: The 29-year-old Argentine is trying to reach quarter-finals for fourth time in five visits. Last year advanced to final (l. to Thiem in third set TB) and two years ago as a qualifier reached QF (l. to Montanes). Made debut in 2010 and lost in SF (l. to Verdasco). Opened on Tuesday with a 76 36 63 win over Jiri Vesely • Trying to reach his third ATP World Tour quarter-final of season • Extended Davis Cup win streak to 11 matches by beating Hurkacz and Przysiezny in 1R (ARG d. POL 3-2) • Reached QFs at Doha (l. to eventual champion Djokovic) and Estoril (l. to eventual champion Almagro) • Beat Groth and Troicki en route to ATP Masters 1000 Indian Wells 3R (l. to Cilic) • Loss to No. 9 Tsonga in Buenos Aires 2R was 8th straight defeat against a Top 10 opponent (1-24 overall) • Withdrew from Houston and Barcelona due to shoulder tendinitis