What Is 2013 Open Sud de France – Singles

Overview

The 2013 Open Sud de France – Singles was an ATP World Tour 250-level men's tennis event held indoors on hard courts in Montpellier, France. It marked the 26th edition of the tournament and featured a 28-player singles draw with a mix of seeded and unseeded competitors.

The event attracted a range of international players, including top-50 ATP professionals, though several high-ranked players withdrew before or during the week. As an indoor hardcourt tournament, it served as a key early-season warm-up for the French Open later in the year.

• Mikhail Youzhny claimed his first title of the 2013 season by winning the singles championship as an unseeded entrant.
• The final match took place on February 10, 2013, with Youzhny defeating Spain’s Tommy Robredo in straight sets: 6–3, 7–5.
• The tournament was held at the Sud de France Arena, a 7,500-seat indoor venue that regularly hosts ATP events.
• As part of the ATP World Tour 250 series, the event awarded 250 ranking points to the singles champion.
• Top seed Richard Gasquet was eliminated in the semifinals after losing to Youzhny in three sets: 6–3, 4–6, 3–6.

How It Works

The Open Sud de France is structured as a standard ATP 250 tournament, featuring a single-elimination format with best-of-three sets for all matches except the final, which may vary.

• Draw Size: The singles draw included 28 players, with eight seeded based on ATP rankings at the time of the tournament.
• Surface Type: Matches were played on indoor hard courts, a surface known for fast ball speed and low bounce, favoring aggressive baseliners.
• Scoring Format: All matches used best-of-three sets with a 12-point tiebreak at 6–6 in any set except the third.
• Ranking Points: The champion earned 250 ATP ranking points, while the runner-up received 150 points toward their season total.
• Prize Money: The 2013 event had a total purse of $520,000, with the singles winner receiving $83,675.
• Player Entry: Entry was determined by ATP rankings, with four wild cards granted to French players and two qualifying spots.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the 2013 Open Sud de France – Singles with similar ATP 250 events held the same year:

This table highlights how the Open Sud de France ranked among peer events in terms of prize money and surface type. While slightly lower than Memphis in total purse, it offered comparable ATP points and attracted a solid field of European-based players preparing for the clay season.

Why It Matters

The 2013 Open Sud de France was significant for player development, regional exposure, and ATP calendar continuity, especially in the early indoor season.

• Mikhail Youzhny’s victory revitalized his season, marking his first title since 2010 and boosting his confidence on indoor courts.
• The tournament provided French players like Gasquet and Tsonga a home-court opportunity to earn points and fan support early in the year.
• As an ATP 250 event, it contributed to the depth of the tour, giving lower-ranked players a realistic path to ranking points.
• The indoor hardcourt format offered valuable preparation for players transitioning between outdoor and indoor seasons.
• Montpellier’s consistent hosting of the event helped solidify France’s presence in the ATP calendar outside of Roland Garros.
• Television coverage and local engagement increased tennis visibility in southern France, promoting youth participation.

The 2013 edition underscored the importance of smaller ATP events in shaping player trajectories and maintaining global interest in men’s professional tennis.