“It’s so incredible to win at home”: Ugo Humbert wins the Metz tennis tournament

2023-11-11 21:29:54

What a Saturday for French tennis! Two finals in the ATP 250, and two titles for the French. After Adrian Mannarino’s victory in Sofia, Ugo Humbert won in Metz against the Russian Alexander Shevchenko. A special victory for him, the tournament venue. Born in Metz, the Mosellan won without too much pain in front of his audience (6-3, 6-3).

At home, Ugo Humbert wins the Moselle Open! ????????

Perfect week for Messin who, in addition to winning his 4th title, entered the top 20 for the first time in his career ????#MoselleOpen pic.twitter.com/F40EYb0MFu

— FFT (@FFTennis) November 11, 2023

Clinically, the left-hander took his opponent’s serve from his first break point. An advantage that he never relinquished, winning 100% of his points on the first ball in a set won 6-3. In the second set, he no longer released the pressure. At 2-2, the Frenchman was not far from taking his opponent’s service and flying towards the title, but the Russian finally held on. It was finally at 3-3 that Messin definitely widened the gap, taking the service of its competitor for the second time in the match.

Humbert passes Mannarino again

After a gross unforced error on the volley, Alexander Shevchenko did not hesitate to smash his racket on the ground, aware of the decisive nature of his error. A clumsiness which Ugo Humbert took full advantage of, continuing to be untouchable on serve, before breaking his opponent one last time and securing his fourth title, in front of an overjoyed audience (6-3, 6-3).

“It was my dream to win this tournament! I have a lot of mixed emotions. It’s so incredible to win at home in front of my family. To end the year like that is incredible,” the Frenchman said after the match.

With this success in the final of an ATP 250, he climbs to 20th place in the world, just ahead of Adrian Mannarino, 22nd. At 25, he reached his best ATP ranking, and gained new points in the race for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where there will be four French people lined up in singles based on the highest ranked over the period from Roland -Garros 2023 to Roland-Garros 2024. Second behind Mannarino but far ahead of his pursuers (Monfils, Lestienne, Fils), he is therefore ideally placed.