The image is surprising. Because it is rare. While the majority of players stick to the center of the field to serve, Ugo Humbert does the opposite, and always shifts further and further. On the left, the Frenchman is even glued to the corridor. A daring choice, since it offers the opponent a boulevard in his backhand, but often pays off, as his left-handed serve annoys his opponents.
Messin has not used this tactic for a long time. Finalist in Tokyo against his compatriot Arthur Fils on October 1, it was in the Japanese capital that the left-hander discovered this new weapon. “It’s incredible because I was training very lightly and I said to myself: I’m going to try to go completely to the left and even if my opponent knows that I’m doing the slice, I’m going to see what happens. »
“Sometimes I forget that there are several options”
Result: 80% points earned. A huge and valuable percentage. “The only solution for my opponent to win the point is for him to give me a return next to the line because otherwise, I just have to run,” smiles Ugo Humbert. It also puts a little doubt in the guy because every now and then, I’ll slap her to the T and he’s lost. The strength of a great server, although I am not the biggest and strongest, is also the variety. When you vary, when you never do the same serve, between effects and zones, it’s super boring because you have to adapt all the time. »
However, Messin has long neglected this almost fatal weapon, especially on fast surfaces like those of the Accor Arena. “Sometimes I forget that there are several options,” he notes. Often, I don’t use the body much, whereas when you’re left-handed, it’s a great advantage. So, instead of having three zones, I only have two. » Faced with Carlos Alcaraz, in the round of 16 of the Rolex Paris Masters, the 18th in the world, however, pulled out all the stops, conceding only once, in the second round.
This tactic could still work miracles this Friday evening, in the quarter-final, against Jordan Thompson. Another right-hander who will have to struggle to get backhands at the end of the race, opening up the rest of the field to Ugo Humbert. The Frenchman seems to have found the formula, and it “amuses” him. And could open the doors to a first semi-final in Masters 1000.
