By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Photo: ©Corinne Dubreuil/Open 13
Hugo Humbert continues to raise the roof inside France.
Now, the French number 1 is demanding respect from the French courts.
More: Offfield training confirmed, some players hate it
The left-handed Humber converted four of five break points Marcos Giron 6-3, 6-2 in the round of 16 of the Rolex Paris Masters today.
It was Humbert’s 10th consecutive victory on French indoor hard courts following his titles in Metz and Marseille.
Afterwards, Humbert said he had been dismissed from his post at court.
Despite being the highest-ranked Frenchman in the field, 15th, Humbert defeated Giron on Court 1.
Meanwhile, a 20-year-old compatriot Arthur Son beat Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3, 6-4 on center court. The Basel champion and the 21-year-old French phenomenon Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard faced Karen Khachanov in the center field game after the Phils’ win.
A humbled Humbert said he was “disappointed” with his court duty and feels his gentle disposition is sometimes used against him.
“I was disappointed because I think I deserved more,” Humbert told the media in Paris. “I am the number 1 French player and I trained in the centre.
“It’s my favorite tournament. I was disappointed that I wasn’t in the center. But I deserved to play for the third round.
“I’m someone who’s very nice. But, you know, sometimes it’s used against me.”
You go, UGO 😜@HumbertUgo advances to the round of 16, 6-3 6-2 over Giro. #RolexParisMasters pic.twitter.com/0KSUFrK8L7
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 30, 2024
It’s wonderful 💪See what it means to win in Paris @ArthurFils1! #RolexParisMasters pic.twitter.com/rlwZRKTfii
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 30, 2024
US Ben Shelton, who was runner-up to Mpetshi Perricard in Basel on Sunday, has called Humbert perhaps the best infield player at the moment.
The lanky left-hander will have his shot to show for it against the Wimbledon winner Carlos Alcaraz in the 16th round.
“I’m happy to have won this match, that I deserved to play in the center against Alcaraz,” said Humbert.
Alcaraz is 2-0 against Humbert, including a four-set victory in the fourth round of Wimbledon in July.
“It’s going to be very different,” Humbert said of facing Alcaraz on the field. “The public will support me. I like to play this kind of match.
“I knew I could play with him, so that was extra motivation to win my first two games.”
