The Spaniards Carlos Alcaraznumber 2 in the world, went astray this Thursday in round 16 of the Masters of Paris 1,000 against France Hugo Humbert (18), unorthodox tennis player who ended up winning 6-1, 3-6 and 7-5 in 2 hours and 20 minutes.
Out of the middle at the start of the game, the player from Murcia managed to balance the contest with patience and skill, but, when it seemed that his game was at the best level, he ran into a tough competition with support from the stands. Nothing like the bath he gave her a month ago i Valentine in Davis Cupinside too. In Paris he encountered a rival with more confidence and more solid tennis.
Alcaraz added his second win of the year in the French capital, where he has won 13 times, and once again showed that the indoor competition does not give him luck. He fell in the round of 16 as it was in his first performance against the Frenchman Hugo Gastónbut on this occasion he fought harder for victory.
It took the world number 2 a while to find his best and when he did, he found Humbert full of confidence, settled in a community that loved him and could put tennis on display which adapts like a glove to the conditions it presents. the competition. Quite the opposite to Alcaraz, who only got brilliance at times, but it was not enough to overcome the nightmare start that gave wings to his rival.
The Frenchman entered the game like a hurricanean aggressive tornado that turned his left leg into a fearsome weapon. There is nothing orthodox in the 18th in the world, which takes the game to madness, with its serving outside the center, its aggressive game, its lack of rhythm that complicates the dynamic.
In the first set it was all on his side, because Alcaraz was absent, missing on the center court shouting in favor of his rival, but not against him, enough not to wake up the ghosts of his duel on that same stage through a year ago. against Hugo Gastón.
But nothing was working on the part of the Spaniard, who raised the errors and turned his rival, whom he defeated in Valencia a month ago, into a surprise. In 18 minutes, the scoreboard already threw out a blushing score, 5-0, twelve errors nor forced and only two winners from the Spaniard, who let the first series slip away with only 14 points in his locker.
The public rubbed their eyes, half enthusiastic about the achievement of their colleagues and saddened by the sad performance of one of their idols. CAlcaraz was in danger of abandoning the competition as last year, almost by default, not being able to find a way to combat Humbert’s heterodoxy.
The Spaniard did not despair, he continued to run at the back of the track following the dictates of the Frenchman, waiting for the Frenchman’s machinery to start rusting, for him to start making mistakes looking for risk.
The second set was a different story. It was no longer a monologue and Humbert began to be suspicious, synonymous with mistakes. Alcaraz took a step forward, started to find his shots and after serving his threat in the fourth, he took it down in the sixth, bringing the Frenchman down from the clouds.
Now the contest was even and Alcaraz seemed to regain his composure and his smile, which looked wide during the long break the Frenchman took to go to the bathroom. The duel was set to be a battle from power to power, because if Alcaraz managed to recover his tennis and give away some of the great points that forged his legend, Humbert did not go away and the game took on an epic air.
One of the solutions in the wire, in the fine details that separate victory from defeat when both deserve more. Alcaraz then failed, as he was unable to complete several well-constructed key points to gain an advantage.which gave oxygen to the Frenchman who did not waste his opportunities.
Decentralized in the final, he let his serve slip away and ended his love affair with Paris. Ugo Humbert, the best ranked Frenchman, He will compete for a place in the semi-finals against Australian Jordan Thompson, 28th in the world, who defeated Frenchman Adrian Mannarino.
Interview Between Time.news Editor and Tennis Expert
Time.news Editor (TNE): Welcome, everyone! Today, we’re diving into the recent upset at the Paris Masters, where world number two, Carlos Alcaraz, was knocked out in the round of 16 by the unorthodox French player, Hugo Humbert. Here with us is tennis expert, Dr. Sarah Thompson. Sarah, thank you for joining us.
Dr. Sarah Thompson (DST): Thank you for having me! It’s great to discuss such an intriguing match.
TNE: Let’s get straight to it. Alcaraz, who has been dominating the tour this year, faced Humbert in what many thought would be a straightforward victory for the Spaniard. What do you think went wrong for Alcaraz?
DST: Well, it was certainly a surprising result. Alcaraz started the match in a very shaky manner. He seemed to struggle with his rhythm, racking up errors and only managing two winners in the first set. Humbert came out aggressively, and that put Alcaraz on the back foot right from the start.
TNE: Yes, Humbert indeed played overwhelmingly well. His unique style and left-handed serves really seemed to disrupt Alcaraz’s game. In your opinion, how did Humbert’s unorthodox approach give him an edge?
DST: Humbert’s style is unpredictable and creates challenges for opponents who are used to a more conventional game. His varied serving patterns and aggressive tactics threw Alcaraz off balance, especially since he had recently faced Humbert in Valencia and won. Sometimes, a player can become overconfident in previous victories, and that might have played a role in Alcaraz’s mindset heading into this match.
TNE: It was also interesting to see the crowd’s influence. Humbert received a lot of support from the Parisian crowd, which you’d think would add pressure on Alcaraz. How significant is crowd support in matches like this?
DST: Crowd support can be a double-edged sword. For Humbert, the enthusiastic audience certainly bolstered his confidence. For Alcaraz, it likely amplified his struggles. He was not only battling a tough opponent but also the expectations and pressure from the stands. It can be particularly daunting in an indoor setting, where crowd noise resonates differently.
TNE: Alcaraz showed resilience in the second set, managing to rebound and find some form. Do you think this performance reflects on his maturity as a player?
DST: Absolutely! Despite the disappointing start, his ability to adjust and fight back demonstrates growth. He showcased glimpses of his incredible talent, but ultimately, it wasn’t enough against a player who was much more settled. This experience could serve as valuable learning for him moving forward, particularly for high-stakes matches against unconventional players.
TNE: So, what does this mean for Alcaraz moving into the next tournaments? Is this setback a critical moment in his career?
DST: Every player has ups and downs, and this match will certainly sting for Alcaraz. However, setbacks can be invaluable teachers. He’s still very young, and I believe he’ll take away important lessons from this match. If he can review what went wrong and learn how to adapt more quickly to different playing styles, I expect him to bounce back even stronger.
TNE: Great insights, Sarah. Alcaraz has shown such promise this year, and we’re excited to see how he responds. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us!
DST: Thank you for having me! I’m looking forward to seeing how the rest of the tennis season unfolds.
TNE: And to our audience, stay tuned for more coverage on the Paris Masters and the exciting developments in the tennis world!