Eliminated in the 3rd round by David Goffin (4-6, 7-5, 6-2, 7-5), the Messin did not hide his frustration but also his satisfaction at having green after months of trouble.
A Wimbledon,
Ugo Humbert gave in to the experienced David Goffin. Very offensive, the Messin took the lead (6-4), before gradually suffering the tactical science of his opponent (6-4, 5-7, 2-6, 5-7), in 2h50 of play. Sometimes brilliant but too inconsistent, like this air pocket in the third set with five games conceded consecutively, Humbert suffered the law of a former top 10 this Friday. He can harbor regrets. In the fourth set, very attacking, he managed a series of five games in a row to lead 5-2, but he was unable to convert his advantage, leaving the next five games and the match to Goffin….I’ve had too many ups and downs to hope for better. In relation to my playing qualities, I have already proven in the past that I have the level to beat this kind of player. In the fourth set, I am again very solid, I play him often when I had returned badly in the third set. As I serve for the set in the fourth, he pulls out a great play. I had taken over. It’s frustrating.»
Read alsoWimbledon: “I’m on the right track”, confides Ugo Humbert, winner of the finalist of the last Roland-Garros
But after a catastrophic start to the season, the 8e from the finalist of the 2019 edition found colors this week on the London lawn. After months of trouble during which he fell in the rankings to 112th in the world at Wimbledon, the former number 25 offered himself a prestigious victory in London at the expense of the finalist of the last Roland-Garros, Casper Ruud, not a turf specialist, it is true. What to green a little: “I have to stabilize my team and my entourage. We must start again on a new work dynamic“, continues the Messin who did not want to announce the name of his future coach.
I feel it’s going to go back in the right direction
Ugo Humbert
The 24-year-old player, who had not won two consecutive victories before Wimbledon this season, must win on the Newport lawn if he wants to enter the next table of the US Open at the end of August. To try to revive and confirm his slight improvement, Humbert will favor challenger tournaments (second division) this summer. “I won a match in five sets in the first round, then it was better against Ruud. I feel like it’s going to go in the right direction. I found a lot of joy on the field. I was happy that Thierry (Ascione) was by my side. it did me good to be supervised. I don’t regret the fact of having evolved on my own. I didn’t feel ready to listen. But sometimes when you’re all alone, you think too much and it hurts your head a little (smiles)».
Read alsoWimbledon: “We had to clean up his moods”, breathes Ascione, coach of Ugo Humbert
After very difficult months, too, Goffin seems to be gradually regaining tennis, which allowed him to climb to 7th in the world in 2017. The Liégeois will face Frances Tiafoé for his fourth 8e final at Wimbledon. The Belgian’s best result at Church Road remains a quarter-final in 2019.