The French number one defeated the American Nakashima in three sets (6-3, 4-6, 6-4) when he entered the Paris tournament.
In Bercy,
After a perfect first set, Ugo Humbert suffered when he entered the fray. The match was balanced in the second act, Messin giving up his serve for the first time at the worst time, while Nakashima led 5-4. Reverse scenario in the decisive round where Messin stole the American’s throw-in at 4-4. Humbert then confirmed his break to pocket the last set 6-4. “It was an intense match with a great start from me. I started very well by being aggressive, trying to move forward, I was doing it really well. He also started to serve better. I had trouble turning it around, getting opportunities. In the third set, it was a fight and he also had opportunities to break me. I went there with my heart and the public pushed me too.”
Carried by the crowd: “It’s nothing. There are matches that you win with chances and then there are matches that you lose when you were in front. It happens. I accepted that not everything was perfect but, for me, the main thing was really to fight. When I stopped in the second set and went to take my break, I said to myself: this may be your last Bercy, don’t worry, play hard, take the energy from the audience who is just incredible and you’ll see, they’ll help you get the match.”.
Messin knew how to play with the public to get out of the Nakashima trap which he dominated for the third time in three matches this year (at Wimbledon (grass) then in Tokyo (hard, outdoor). “I use that to push myself, not to give up, to continue to be present, to be there and to give everything. When there are hotter moments, I have also played in these atmospheres where they were not all for me. I know it can help and it can also make him break down. In the end, that’s what happened, he made some big mistakes when I broke in the game just before where I also had chances, I used them, that helps.”.
