The official list of the Open 13 Provence 2023 has just been published! The world’s tennis elite are expected to arrive on the courts of the Palais des Sports in Marseille to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the tournament.
In fact, 7 players from the Top 30 in the world (including 6 former Top 10), a three-time Grand Slam winner and the best French players gathered in the south of France to try to win this edition that will go down in the annals!
Starting with one of the revelations of last season, the Danish Holger Rune, who recently triumphed at the Rolex Paris Masters against Novak Djokovic. Will the 19-year-old assume his new status as favorite after being a rising star in international tennis? The table will be completed by Hubert Hurkacz, number 11 in the world.
The Polish player, usually very regular in tournaments, is a player to watch closely since his remarkable semifinal at Wimbledon in 2021. This will be his third participation in the Open 13 Provence. Jannik Sinner, for his part, wants to forget his last-minute loss in 2022 due to COVID-19 and will come with the same intention as in all tournaments: to go as far as possible!
Currently ranked 16th in the world, the Italian was stopped in the semifinals of the Adelaide tournament a few weeks ago. Obviously, he will have to be reckoned with this year as he just had one of the best seasons of his career reaching the quarterfinals of three Grand Slam tournaments.
Surprise guest at the US Open semifinals last year and still competing at the Australian Open, Karen Khachanov will return to the courts of Marseille after his last visit two years ago. Winner of the tournament five years ago, he is a formidable indoor player who must be watched with the greatest attention.
This high-flying sports poster will be completed by the Australian Alex de Minaur, a player capable of beating the odds in each tournament.
Rune has been shining the last few months
Beaten in the first round in Adelaide by Nishioka then in the round of 16 at the Australian Open by Rublev, Holger Rune then won his two Davis Cup matches (against India) before heading to Montpellier.
For the first time in his young career, he will be seeded number 1 in a tournament. “I am excited to take on this challenge. I’m still young, I don’t feel like I have to win but if I want to reach my goals and my dreams, I will have to be seeded number 1 in other tournaments so it’s good to getting used to it is better than being an 8 seed or whatever.
It’s different but when I was a junior I was often number 1 so I can take inspiration from that,” said the 9th player in the world on this subject at a press conference. Beneficiary of a bye in the 1st round, he will enter the competition in the round of 16 on Wednesday against Marc-Andrea Huesler (49th) or Luca Van Assche (145th).
