The third went well for Ugo Humbert. After failing in 2021 and 2023, the French tennis number one won the Caen Open this Wednesday 11 December against the British Cameron Norrie. For the inconvenience, Humbert did not provide details, closing the affair in an hour of top time (6-1; 6-3) in front of an audience that would not have been against a little rabbi, a year after The amazing marathon between the tricolor and Alex de Minaur (3 hours 04 minutes of play). “The level of play is already good. Caen serves as a training ground for them”, say Marie and Christine in the stands.Just barely. And the tournament is happy about it.
“it’s the perfect preparation. There are great players and playing conditions that we find during the season.I take advantage of the tournament to get back into my routine”, confided Ugo Humbert after the final, overshadowed by this stop in caen “during training”. If the Caen Open is not official,it is a useful meeting in full preparation to the tennis season and his first major Australian tournaments in early January.
“Not an exhibition but a tournament without ATP points”
“It’s not an exhibition,” insists Pascal Vesques, patron of the event. In the exhibition the players are not all outside, thay laugh. Here they play. I would say it’s a tournament with no ATP points to defend, but I like this slot. We attract good players who come here to find rhythm, mentality, in good conditions. »
Every year, the calvados tournament tries to convince players and offers a nice pitch. In the quarterfinals, Richard Gasquet, such as, defeated Dominic Thiem, winner of the 2020 US Open. In 2018, Daniil Medvedev, then on the rise, moved on from Caen. Same trajectory for Elina Svitolina, winner of the tournament in 2017 and 2018. Ugo Humbert, the best French player of the moment, faced the former world number eight this Wednesday.
The recipe for this attraction: “A family atmosphere, without pressure, international players and a good welcome for the players and their entourage”, sums up Pascal Vesques. The director mentions the logistics,the drivers to pick up the players at Paris airport,the accommodation,the provision of the Palais des sports for training or even…the sparring partners, which the association finds for the players.
The new Caen-la-Mer Sports Center makes its contribution. It contrasts with the Zénith in Caen, once an unusual setting for the tennis tournament but not the most suitable. The second edition of the Caen Open at the Palais confirmed the good impressions of the big debut in 2023. For the tournament audience but also for the players, who benefit from a weight room, physiotherapy and a quieter place.
“The room gives another dimension to the event”, underlined Ugo Humbert. “The players are like at home”, smiles Pascal Vesques, after hearing Cameron Norrie’s thanks for “the welcome given to the [son] team, very well received, even if it’s a bit cold here (laughs)”. In four days, 16,000 spectators attended the matches in a crowd that was always full or almost full.
The pace is too high to integrate the official calendar
On Monday the public saw Elise Mertens (34th player in the world) win the women’s table. Wednesday then witnessed Ugo Humbert’s success. Would the public celebrate in the same way if Caen tried to join the official calendar? “We would no longer have control over the format and pricing. There are many standards, more land is needed. There is a huge gap between what we do and an official tournament,” explains the director.
Even financially. With a budget of around 800,000 euros (divided between private funds, partnerships and subsidies), the Caen tournament is far from the standards of an ATP tournament.And to reach the best players it would be necessary to achieve a high level of organization. In its current formula, the caen Open is full and will have allowed the experts to notice some innovations repeated by Ugo Humbert in this pre-season: more clear climbs seen in the final…and also afterwards, during a final session workout in empty room. The Caen Open, a playground until the end.
– What strategies can players implement to stay competitive in unofficial tournaments like the Caen Open?
Interview between Time.news Editor and Tennis Expert Pascal Vesques
Time.news Editor: Welcome, Pascal.It’s great to have you here to discuss the recent happenings at the Caen Open, especially ugo Humbert’s impressive victory against Cameron Norrie. How significant is this win for Humbert as he prepares for the upcoming season?
Pascal Vesques: Thank you for having me. Ugo’s victory is indeed quite significant. Winning this tournament, even if it doesn’t count for ATP points, is a good confidence booster. It shows that he has the capability to perform under pressure, which is essential as he heads into the more competitive Australian Open.
Time.news Editor: Right, you mentioned that the Caen Open is not an exhibition, yet it doesn’t contribute to ATP rankings.how do you think players like Humbert benefit from participating in a tournament like this?
Pascal Vesques: That’s an excellent point. While it lacks ATP points, the Caen Open provides players with a chance to shake off any rust and get back into a competitive mindset. It’s an habitat that replicates the actual match conditions they’ll face in official tournaments,which is critical for their planning.
Time.news Editor: Humbert himself said that Caen serves as a training ground for him. Can you elaborate on how critically important such “training grounds” are for players, especially this close to the start of a new season?
Pascal Vesques: Absolutely. For players returning from a break or looking to refine their skills, these tournaments offer high-quality match play against tough opponents. Competing in a less pressured environment allows them to work on specific aspects of their game—like serving under pressure, maintaining focus, and managing stamina—without the full weight of ranking points hanging over them.
Time.news Editor: Marie and Christine, who where in the stands, commented on the good level of play at the Caen Open. In your opinion, what does this say about the tournament’s standing in the tennis community?
Pascal vesques: It illustrates that the Caen Open has become a respected part of the pre-season calendar, attracting not only local talent but also higher-ranked players like Humbert and Norrie. This kind of engagement raises the overall level of play and shows that it’s valued as a stepping stone to the main season.
Time.news Editor: Speaking of raising the level of play, do you think tournaments like the Caen Open could become a more significant part of the ATP calendar in the future, or will they remain as unofficial yet valuable events?
Pascal Vesques: It’s hard to say. the ATP calendar is already crowded, but there’s always room for tournaments that serve unique purposes, like these preparation events. They offer a balance between competitive play and the need for players to ramp up their games for major tournaments. If the demand and quality remain high, we could see official recognition in some form, but that would require a consensus among players and officials.
Time.news Editor: Interesting insights, Pascal. after this victory and such valuable preparation, what should we expect from Humbert come the Australian Open?
Pascal Vesques: If he continues to build on his performances in Caen and maintains his mental and physical readiness, we can expect him to be a strong contender. He has the talent; it will come down to his ability to handle the pressure and sieze critical moments in matches. Winning at Caen may just be the inspiration he needs to make a deep run in Australia.
Time.news Editor: Thank you, Pascal, for your valuable insights. It’s certainly an exciting time for tennis fans as we look forward to the new season.
Pascal Vesques: My pleasure. I’m looking forward to seeing how everything unfolds!
