Frenchman Ugo Humbert, 18th player in the world, qualified on Friday in Paris for the first Masters 1000 semi-final of his career, beating Australian Jordan Thompson (28th) 6-2, 7-6 (7/4 ).
Aged 26, the N.1 of French tennis is the first Frenchman to reach the final four of a Masters 1000 – the most prestigious tournaments after the four Grand Slams – since Richard Gasquet in 2019 in Cincinnati. At Bercy, such a performance had not been achieved since Julien Benneteau’s accession to the last four in 2017.
Humbert will face Russian Karen Khachanov (21st), winner of the tournament in 2018, on Saturday for a place in the final.
Before his success against Thompson, who had beaten him in their only previous confrontation, the left-hander from Metz had failed three times in the quarter-finals of the Masters 1000: in Paris in 2020, Shanghai in 2023 and Monte-Carlo in 2024.
Friday on the central court of Bercy, Humbert flew through the first set, taking his opponent’s service from his first break point to lead 3-1 then 4-1. The French No.1 delivered the blow in the eighth game, converting his second set point, again in a service game from Thompson (6-2).
Tie-break haletant
The second set was much more contested, the Australian regularly putting Humbert in difficulty on his serve. After being saved by a burst of aces and winning services at the start of the set, Messin finally gave in his throw at 5-5, also hurting his right foot. Treated for a few minutes at the side of the court, Humbert returned hungry to the court, immediately breaking Thompson to the delight of spectators chanting “Ugo” at the top of their lungs.
In a breathtaking tie-break, it was ultimately Messin who emerged 7-4.
“I really play with my heart and that’s what made the difference today,” commented Ugo Humbert. “I transformed myself to snatch victory (…) It is for this type of emotion that I train every day,” he savored after the match.
Quarter-finals
Holger Rune (DEN/N.13) beat Alex De Minaur (AUS/N.9) 6-4, 4-6, 7-5
Alexander Zverev (GER/N.3) bat Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE/N.10) 7-5, 6-4
Ugo Humbert (FRA/N.15) beat Jordan Thompson (AUS) 6-2, 7-6
Karen Khachanov (RUS) bat Grigor Dimitrov (BUL/N.8) 6-2, 6-3
