You had to pinch yourself to believe it on the Central Court of the Accor Arena. In search of a French feat for the last edition of the Rolex Paris Masters before a move in 2025 to Paris La Défense Arena, Bercy was served. In an atmosphere like only the venue in eastern Paris can offer, and to validate a ticket for the quarter-finals, Ugo Humbert committed a crime of lèse-majesté by dominating in three sets (6-1, 3-6, 7-5) the new king of Paris, winner at Roland-Garros and Olympic vice-champion this summer, Carlos Alcaraz. “One of the best moments of my life on a tennis court,” in his own words after the match. Quite simply.
However, we thought the tricolor feat was planned for earlier today, when Arthur Fils took world number 3 Alexander Zverev into a 3rd set of all possibilities. It was finally even bigger when evening fell, Messin entered the Central. Nobody really gave much of their skin. Their last confrontation in the Davis Cup ended with a quick victory for the Spaniard (6-3, 6-3), just over a month ago. Earlier this summer, it was still the same Alcaraz who prevented him from reaching a first Grand Slam quarter-final at Wimbledon.
“Wait, 3-0, 0-40 for fucking Ugo”
And yet. In a night session which caused a long queue outside, and some access difficulties, it was important not to miss the start of the meeting. Or even treat yourself to a trip to the toilet before sitting down. Even blink. In just over 12 minutes of play, Ugo Humbert had already taken his opponent’s serve twice.
“Wait, 3-0, 0-40 for fucking Ugo,” even Arthur Fils was surprised as he passed in front of the television screen in the press room. About ten minutes later, the French number 1, who had requested a court worthy of his status, after having been scheduled in the annex the day before, surprised Central by pocketing the first set (6-1). Well helped certainly an opponent of the day with absent subscribers and guilty of 15 unforced errors, Messin, titled twice this season in Marseille and Dubai, offered a demonstration of his left-handed paw, shifting almost to the corridor to serve .
“He was fantastic from the start of the match. Every time he plays against me, I feel like he’s even better. And in Paris, even more so,” said the Spaniard, overcome in front of him.
An unreal third set
But all this still lacked a little flavor for an exploit. It was necessary to add a little salt, and a return of the Spaniard to the highest level in the second set (6-1, 3-6). Just to take Bercy into a stifling third set at past 9 p.m.
This is where the evening turned into the unreal. With extended rallies, completely improbable defenses from Alcaraz, under the impressively precise blows of the Frenchman, the fans this Thursday evening got their money’s worth, applauding in turn the exploits of the one then the other. “It was very difficult to play in these conditions. But I loved it. The fans were respectful. We had a lot of fun,” explained the world number 2 after the meeting. As if the Spaniard had had a little French blood that evening. As if the Frenchman had had a bit of the Spaniard’s talent too.
But there had to be a winner. And Humbert, with unstoppable composure, reminded the world number 2 that if he had made Paris his home at Roland-Garros, the Rolex Paris Masters would resist him for one more year, he who has never done better than a quarter-final at Bercy in 2022. “There were incredible points in the 3rd set. Especially at 5-5. I save both break points on my serve. I don’t really know what’s going on,” he says, his voice still trembling from his exploit.
In a melting room, roaring under the kicks of the spectators, the 18th in the world finished well, even if he finds it hard to believe it, by bringing down Alcaraz (6-1, 3-6, 7-5) under a final lapel that is too long. The public was not allowed to see the Frenchman lying on the ground, but it was well worth a few screams of rage while beating his heart. Next more affordable obstacle in the quarter-finals: the Australian Jordan Thompson, 28th in the world. Before a potential semi-final against Karen Khachanov or Grigor Dimitrov, who defeated Arthur Rinderknech at the end of the night (6-2, 4-6, 7-6).
