With its new name, the Montpellier tournament held its press conference to present its new features at the headquarters of Free MiddayTuesday January 7, less than three weeks before its start.
Open Occitanie, D-18! Less than three weeks before the first racket hits at the Sud de France Arena, the Montpellier tournament held its back-to-school press conference, Tuesday evening, at the headquarters of Free Midday. On the program, reminder of the sports field, new name and some new features for this fifteenth edition of… theOpen Occitanie.
“The next three editions have been secured and the first novelty is this new name”smiled Samir Boudjemaa, general director of TV Sports Events, the company that owns the Hérault tournament.
And for good reason, after the disengagement of the Montpellier Metropolis for one of the three ATP250 tournaments in the country, the organizers had to find new public partners, starting with the Occitanie Region, the Hérault Department and the Agglomeration of the Countries of Gold. “It’s going to be a joyful moment in a blurry and disrupted time”wanted to highlight KamelChibli, vice-president of the Region in charge of sports, in particular.
“It’s an event that has become popular”
This fifteenth edition is already a success in terms of ticketing, since the organizers have announced that to date, a 20% increase in ticket sales has been observed. “It is an event that has become popularrecalls Boudjemaa. It must be said that we have put in place, with the communities, an ambitious pricing policy, with starting prices at six euros.”
No one yet knows if last year's record with more than 61,000 spectators will be beaten in 2025. People coming to the Arena will still be able to observe some great names on the circuit – despite the withdrawal of the French nugget, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, selected to compete in the Davis Cup.
Like the American Sebastian Korda (seeded N.1, 22nd), the Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime (29th), or the old hands Gaël Monfils, Stanislas Wawrinka, as well as the locals Richard Gasquet and Arthur Cazaux.
No more lines judges
Not to mention a possible last big name who would see his adventure at the Australian Open end early, benefiting from a last minute invitation from tournament director Sébastien Grosjean.
Another new feature – and not the least important – is the announcement by the Open Occitanie of the disappearance of lines judges, in accordance with the new policy put in place by the ATP in this area. All to start a new three-year cycle (at least), at the Sud de France Arena.
