Robin Soderling goes for his third ATP title of the season at this week's Open 13 event in Marseille.
Soderling is the man to beat after cementing his world number four spot by picking up the prestigious Rotterdam title last week. Soderling came through a high quality field which featured four of the world's top ten and already has two titles to his name in 2011. He made the Marseille final way back in 2004 and will be strong favourite to go all the way this week. When on song there are few better indoor players out there.
Soderling will again face strong competition from 2009 Marseille champion Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. The Frenchman is determined to get back in the top ten after recovering from a knee injury and he powered through to last week's Rotterdam final, losing a close three setter to the Swede.
World number seven Tomas Berdych is seeded second but after a good showing in Australia, the Czech went out in the Rotterdam quarter-finals. Not quite been at his best so far this season but he will be more comfortable when the tour moves outdoors again.
Watch out for 2010 champion Michael Llodra, who has just snuck into the seeding list at number eight. Llodra's net ability and huge flat groundstrokes always make him a dangerous opponent indoors particularly in front of home fans.
Mikhail Youzhny has always underperformed in Marseille in the past, never making it past the quarters. However the Russian is playing well at the moment, he was unlucky to get Soderling in the Rotterdam quarters last week and there was little between them on the day.
