Week in Preview: Three ATP events on two continents before Fed Cup

If you measure the men’s tour by Grand Slams and Davis Cup, a quarter of the 2017 season is already in the books. In its week-to-week grind, though, the year is just getting started. February is the only month without any majors or Masters, but as the Golden Swing through South America has grown in importance, these four weeks aren’t as quiet as they once were.

That said, February does get off to something of a slow start in 2017. With Fed Cup happening over the weekend, there are no WTA events scheduled. And the three 250-level tournaments on the ATP side don’t include anyone in the Top 5. Here’s a look ahead at who will be in action starting on Monday.

*Montpellier, France

$583,082; 250 ranking points

Indoor hard courts

Draw is here*

Marin Cilic is the top seed at this small indoor event in France, but it’s hard to bet against Richard Gasquet, who is the two-time defending champion and has won it three times in the last four years. Nearly a quarter of the Frenchman’s career titles have come on this court.

Still, Gasquet will have to play well if he wants to make it three in a row. He could face a rejuvenated Mischa Zverev in the quarters, Cilic in the semis and either Jo-Wilfried Tsonga or Zverev’s younger brother, Alexander, in the final.

First-round matches to watch:

Mischa Zverev vs. Dan Evans

Karen Khachanov vs. Benoit Paire

*Sofia, Bulgaria

$583,082; 250 ranking points

Indoor hard courts

Draw is here*

Sofia is an out of the way spot on the tennis map, and its tournament is just a 250, but it has put together a decent draw. Though maybe that shouldn’t be too much of a surprise: Grigor Dimitrov, Bulgaria’s favorite (only?) tennis son, is the third seed, and Dominic Thiem, who is happy to play anywhere, anytime, is the top seed. A semifinal between them would be a highlight of the week. As would a final between the winner and the No. 2 seed, David Goffin.

*Quito, Ecuador

$540,310; 250 ranking points

Clay

Draw is here*

By the time the Golden Swing gets to Buenos Aires and Rio later this month, it will be in high gear, but it doesn’t exactly come out ... swinging in its opening week. Ivo Karlovic, a 37-year-old who is known as everything other than a dirtballer, is the top seed in Quito, followed by the (admittedly more logical) Albert Ramos-Viñolas and Paolo Lorenzi.