What Is 2010 Open Sud de France

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2010 Open Sud de France was a men's ATP tennis tournament held in Montpellier, France, from February 1 to February 7, 2010. It was the 23rd edition of the event, played on indoor hard courts, with unseeded Gilles Simon winning the singles title.

Key Facts

The 2010 Open Sud de France took place from February 1–7, 2010, in Montpellier, France
It was the 23rd edition of the tournament, part of the ATP World Tour 250 series
Gilles Simon won the singles title, defeating Julien Benneteau in the final
The tournament was played on indoor hard courts at the Arena Montpellier
No top-10 ATP players were seeded; Simon entered unseeded but ranked No. 16

Overview

The 2010 Open Sud de France was a professional men's tennis tournament held as part of the ATP World Tour 250 series. It marked the 23rd edition of the event and took place in Montpellier, a city in southern France, at the Arena Montpellier. The tournament returned to Montpellier after being held in nearby Marseille the previous year due to venue scheduling conflicts.

Played on indoor hard courts, the event attracted a mix of French and international players. As a lower-tier ATP 250 event, it did not feature many top-10 ranked players, but still provided competitive matches and a strong showing from home talent. The 2010 edition was notable for its all-French final and the resurgence of Gilles Simon.

Gilles Simon won the singles title without dropping a set throughout the tournament, defeating Julien Benneteau 6–4, 6–3 in the final on February 7, 2010.
The tournament featured a 28-player singles draw and a 16-team doubles draw, with prize money totaling $485,000, standard for ATP 250 events at the time.
Michaël Llodra was the defending champion but withdrew before the tournament due to injury, opening the door for unseeded French contenders.
Matches were played on indoor hard courts using Dunlop Fort ball type, a surface favoring aggressive baseliners and servers like Simon.
The event was broadcast in France by France Télévisions and attracted over 25,000 spectators across the week, reflecting strong local interest.

How the Tournament Unfolded

The 2010 Open Sud de France followed a standard ATP 250 format, with a week-long schedule of singles and doubles matches culminating in a Sunday final. Despite the absence of top-10 players, the draw remained competitive due to strong French representation and solid ATP-ranked participants.

Qualifying Rounds: Four players advanced from the qualifying draw, including Édouard Roger-Vasselin, who later reached the quarterfinals before losing to Simon.
First Round: Top seed Paul-Henri Mathieu (ranked No. 20) advanced, but No. 4 seed Arnaud Clément lost to qualifier Igor Kunitsyn in three sets.
Quarterfinals: Simon defeated Victor Hănescu 6–3, 6–4, while Benneteau upset No. 2 seed Andreas Seppi in a tight three-set match.
Semifinals: Simon beat Julien Benneteau’s doubles partner Jonathan Erlich 7–5, 6–2, while Benneteau overcame Florian Mayer 6–4, 7–6(5).
Doubles Final: The team of Arnaud Clément and Michaël Llodra won the doubles title, defeating Jeremy Chardy and Paul-Henri Mathieu 6–4, 7–6(4).
Final Match: In the singles final, Simon dominated Benneteau, winning 6–4, 6–3 in 78 minutes, claiming his first title since 2008 due to injury setbacks.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the 2010 Open Sud de France with other ATP 250 events held the same year:

Tournament	Location	Surface	Prize Money	2010 Singles Champion
Open Sud de France	Montpellier, France	Indoor Hard	$485,000	Gilles Simon
South African Open	Johannesburg, RSA	Indoor Hard	$398,250	Kevin Anderson
Chennai Open	Chennai, India	Outdoor Hard	$425,000	Marin Čilić
Viña del Mar	Chile	Clay	$380,000	Tommy Robredo
Delray Beach Open	USA	Outdoor Hard	$380,000	Ernests Gulbis

The Open Sud de France stood out in 2010 for its indoor hard court setup and strong French participation. While prize money was slightly higher than average for ATP 250 events, the tournament's significance lay more in national pride than global prestige. Its scheduling in early February made it a key warm-up for indoor season events leading to the Paris Masters later in the year.

Why It Matters

The 2010 Open Sud de France was a pivotal moment for French tennis, showcasing domestic talent during a period of relative decline on the global stage. The all-French final and Simon’s victory energized local fans and highlighted the depth of homegrown players.

Gilles Simon’s win marked his 8th ATP title and helped him climb back into the top 15 of the ATP rankings after a year of injury struggles.
The tournament reinforced Montpellier as a stable host city, securing its place on the ATP calendar through 2019 before moving again.
Strong attendance and TV coverage demonstrated the enduring popularity of tennis in France, especially during the indoor season.
It provided valuable ranking points for French players aiming to improve seeding at Grand Slam events later in the year.
The event helped promote French doubles specialists like Llodra and Clément, who remained competitive at the highest level.
Organizers used the 2010 edition to test new fan engagement initiatives, including interactive zones and player meet-ups, later adopted by other ATP events.

Overall, the 2010 Open Sud de France served as both a competitive platform and a cultural event, strengthening the connection between French athletes and their home crowd. Its success laid groundwork for future expansions and higher-profile editions in the 2010s.