Jeremy Chardy will be up against fellow countryman Eric Prodon in the first round of the ATP Vina Del Mar Open

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Jeremy Chardy returns to ATP action this season with a first round matchup in Vina Del Mar, against his compatriot Eric Prodon. This will be a prime opportunity for Chardy to test his mettle at the top tier again, following a nightmarish 2011 season, in which he fell outside of the top fifty, and put together a disappointing 10-18 record in ATP World Tour competition.

Prodon isn’t necessarily a no-hoper for this match, but his chances of victory appear to be slim. At the age of thirty, the Frenchman has only won one match at this level, despite entering thirteen Tour level events. He’s inside the top hundred due to consistent achievements on the Challenger tour, but he seems to be lacking the nous required to be a threat in Vina Del Mar.

Chardy sharpened his teeth for this tournament by winning a Challenger event in New Caledonia at the beginning of January, and it’s hard to imagine him failing here. He finished 2011 with a big run in Moscow, and that seems to have done wonders for his confidence. Expect him to prevail in straight sets.