The opening round of the Montpellier Open 2026 wasted no time in delivering classic indoor ATP drama. Fast courts, short margins and a packed schedule produced multiple tie-break finishes, a few notable exits and several statement wins that immediately reshaped the draw.
Carreño Busta survives marathon against Kecmanović
Pablo Carreño Busta came through one of the longest and most physical matches of the day, edging past Miomir Kecmanović in three tight sets, 6–4, 3–6, 7–6. The deciding tie-break reflected the match perfectly—few breaks, heavy baseline exchanges and nerves tested until the final points. For Carreño Busta, it was a valuable indoor win against a solid baseline opponent.
Humbert sharp at home, Fils escapes thriller
Home favorite Ugo Humbert looked composed and efficient, dispatching Botic van de Zandschulp 6–3, 6–4 in a match that underlined how dangerous the Frenchman can be on indoor hard courts when his serve is clicking.
Arthur Fils, meanwhile, had to dig deep in front of the Montpellier crowd. The French prospect survived a wild three-set battle against Valentin Royer, winning 7–6, 6–7, 6–2. After two nerve-wracking tie-breaks, Fils raised his level decisively in the final set, feeding off crowd energy to pull away late.
Hurkacz shocked early, Vavassori falls
One of the biggest surprises of the first round came with the early exit of Hubert Hurkacz. The Polish seed was beaten by Martin Damm Jr., who claimed a confidence-boosting 6–4, 7–6 victory. In fast indoor conditions, Damm’s serving and first-strike tennis proved decisive, sending a clear message to the rest of the field.
Another notable result saw Ugo Blanchet defeat Andrea Vavassori 6–4, 6–3, capitalizing on aggressive returns and steady baseline play to close the match in straight sets.
French success continues with Droguet
The home crowd also celebrated the performance of Titouan Droguet, who delivered one of the cleanest wins of the round. Droguet defeated Jan Choinski 6–2, 7–6, controlling the tempo and holding firm in the second-set tie-break to seal his place in round two.
Key Takeaways
- Indoor conditions in Montpellier immediately produced a high number of tie-breaks and matches decided by fine margins.
- Early exits, including Hubert Hurkacz, have already opened sections of the draw and increased unpredictability.
- French players (Humbert, Fils, Droguet) capitalized on home support and advanced to the next round.
- Carreño Busta’s marathon win highlighted how mental resilience will be a key factor throughout the week.
One early storyline already shifts toward next week. Despite his early exit in Montpellier, Hubert Hurkacz now gains valuable recovery time ahead of the ABN AMRO Open in Rotterdam, which begins on 7 February. The Polish player is traditionally dangerous on indoor hard courts, and the extra rest could work in his favor as the European indoor swing continues.
👉 Full tournament preview:
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