Jurgen Melzer begins his Marseille campaign against Andreas Seppi on Wednesday night.
Melzer enjoyed a decent start to the year, reaching the last sixteen of the Australian Open before losing to a red hot Andy Murray. However his indoor season did not get off to the most auspicious start in Rotterdam last week as he was outplayed by Marin Cilic in the second round.
However Melzer has a slightly easier draw this week as fourth seed although Ivan Ljubicic potentially awaits in the quarter-finals.
Seppi did well to overcome the dangerous Robin Haase in round one, proving too consistent in the end for the big serving Dutchman and edging through 5-7, 6-4, 7-6. The Italian stepped down a level last week for his home town Bergamo challenger event and he picked up a confidence boosting title.
Seppi leads 3-2 on the head-to-head but four of their matches have come on the Italian's favourite surface - clay. They have played once indoors, Melzer enjoying a convincing 6-2, 6-2 win in Rotterdam last year.
Prediction: Melzer in two
