“Make the lightning speak, Ugo!” “, a Bercy spectator apostrophized on Friday the 1stAhem In November, Ugo Humbert had barely entered the center court of the Palais Omnisports. The last Frenchman to compete in the last Parisian edition of the tournament (the Masters 1000 will move in 2025 to the Paris La Défense Arena in Nanterre (Hauts-de-Seine)) did not need to be asked. Since he entered combat, determination can be read in his eyes and heard in his moans: Messin is as if inhabited.
Last victim of the lefty? Jordan Thompson (28)my World Cup), eliminated in the quarterfinals (6-2, 7-6). A quick first set (29 minutes), two breaks, three times as many winners: faced with such insolent ease, the 30-year-old Australian casts helpless glances towards his clan while applauding his executioner of the day.
Under the watch of Robert Pirès, the 1.88 m left-hander still needed to strengthen his game in the second set, which concluded in the tie-break. After two match points scored at 5-4 and a break conceded in the process, Humbert “he transcended himself to achieve victory.” Like this exceptional defense in the decisive game where he returned two smashes to make the minibreak, then fired a pass and earned two new match points, with his eyes popping out of his head.
“I am prepared for anything, I play with my heart”
“As soon as I’m on the court I’m ready for anything, I play with my heart, the solutions come to me. I’m never too worried, I play listening to myself, with a great feeling. “I’m not surprised to see myself at this level, but I’m glad it’s happening now.” savor the protégé of Jérémy Chardy (ex-25my global).
Since the beginning of Bercy, Humbert’s chrysalis changes. he, the ” gentle “As he admitted this week (hinting “a little too much”), he is determined to break that soft image that clings to his racket. On Tuesday, after his victory against the American Marcos Girón, the French number 1 did not hide from journalists that he was not pleased to have been relegated to a brief annex unworthy of his status.
On the pitch, the 26-year-old no longer hesitates to take his opponent by the throat, regardless of their caliber. On Thursday, in the round of 16, Humbert lectured (6-1, 3-6, 7-5) world number 2 Carlos Alcaraz, a four-time Grand Slam winner. Hitting winner after winner, passing lines and surgical strikes, Humbert shut down the Spaniard’s usually lethal tennis panache to offer “the most beautiful victory of [sa] career “.
You have 54.33% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.
