By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Photo credit: ©Corinne Dubreuil/Open 13
Ugo Humbert continues raising the roof indoors in France.
Now, the French No. 1 is requesting respect on French courts.
More: Off-Court Coaching Confirmed, Some Players Hate It
The left-handed Humber converted four of five break points rolling Marcos Giron 6-3, 6-2 into the Rolex Paris Masters round of 16 today.
It was Humbert’s 10th straight victory on French indoor hard courts after his title runs in Metz and Marseille.
Afterward, Humbert said was fired up by his court assignment.
Despite the fact he’s the highest-ranked Frenchman in the field, the 15th-seeded Humbert beat Giron on Court 1.
Meanwhile, 20-year-old compatriot Arthur Fils defeated Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3, 6-4 on center court. Basel champion and 21-year-old French phenom Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard faced Karen Khachanov on the center court match following Fils’ win.
The humble Humbert said he has “disappointed” by the court assignment and feels his mild-mannered disposition is sometimes used against him.
“I was disappointed, because I think I deserved better,” Humbert told the media in Paris. “I’m No. 1 French player, and I have practiced on the center court.
“It’s my favorite tournament. I was disappointed that I was not on the center court. But I have deserved to play for the third round.
“I’m someone who is very nice. But, you know, sometimes it is used against me.”
You go, UGO 😜@HumbertUgo rides into the round of 16, 6-3 6-2 over Giron. #RolexParisMasters pic.twitter.com/0KSUFrK8L7
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 30, 2024
C’est top 💪Look what winning in Paris means to @ArthurFils1! #RolexParisMasters pic.twitter.com/rlwZRKTfii
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 30, 2024
American Ben Shelton, who was runner-up to Mpetshi Perricard in Basel on Sunday, has called Humbert arguably the best indoor hard-court player right now.
The lanky left-hander will have his shot to show it against Wimbledon winner Carlos Alcaraz in the round of 16.
“I’m delighted to have won this match, to have deserved playing on the center court against Alcaraz,” Humbert said.
Alcaraz is 2-0 against Humbert, including a four-set win in the Wimbledon fourth round in July.
“It’s going to be very different,” Humbert said of facing Alcaraz on home soil. “The public is going to support me. I love playing that kind of match.
“I knew that potentially I could play him, so it was an extra motivation to win my first two matches.”
