Matching Report
Humbert heads into the final in Paris after a 13th consecutive home win
The 26-year-old faces Zverev in the title match
November 02, 2024
Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour
Ugo Humbert in action in Paris.
Written by Sam Jacot
Ugo Humbert is an ATP Masters 1000 finalist. The French star cruised past Karen Khachanov 6-7(6), 6-4, 6-3 at home at the Rolex Paris Masters on Saturday to reach her first final at the Masters 1000 level.
The 26-year-old played explosive tennis in front of an electric crowd in Paris and took advantage of Khachanov’s physical limitations in the closing stages of the third set to become the fifth Frenchman to reach the title match at the tough indoor event.
“It’s amazing to do it in Paris at my favorite tournament. It’s a dream,” said Humbert. “It was a bit difficult compared to previous matches. I felt pressure and after losing the first set I tried to enjoy the moment and be with the crowd. I did very well and I am very proud.”
There is no place like home 🫶🏡@HumbertUgo advanced to his FIRST EVER Masters 1000 final! #RolexParisMasters | @RolexPMasters pic.twitter.com/vKGJDD1Rn8
– ATP Tour (@atptour) November 2, 2024
Humbert smashed the ball away from both wings and dived into the crowd to claim his 13th consecutive win on the tough indoor courts in France. The 15-year-old won the title in Metz last year and won indoors in Marseille in February.
Chasing his seventh tour-level title, Humbert will meet Alexander Zverev in the championship match on Sunday. Earlier this week, Humbert upset Carlos Alcaraz. The Frenchman, who hit 35 winners against Khachanov, rose four places to No. 14 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings and will move up to the top 11 on Monday if he wins the title.
Khachanov was in the race until 3-2 in the third place, when he received medical treatment for a leg injury. The No. 21 player in the PIF ATP Rankings lost serve in the seventh game of the third set and was unable to move in the final two games of the two-hour, 48-minute match.
Humbert is the first Frenchman to reach the final in Paris since Jo-Wilfried Tsonga lost to Roger Federer in the title match in 2011. The last Frenchman to win the title was Tsonga in 2008.
Humbert will aim to take his outstanding 6-1 record into the finals in Sunday’s meeting with Zverev. The left-hander, who lost his first ATP Tour final in Tokyo last month to Arthur Fils, is tied 1-1 in the Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Zverev. Earlier this year Humbert lifted trophies in Dubai and Marseille, while Zverev won the title at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Rome.
Khachanov is a former champion in Paris, winning the biggest title of his life in the French capital in 2018. The 28-year-old scored a stunning straight-sets victory against Grigor Dimitrov in the quarter-finals but fell short against him. Humbert.
Khachanov finishes his year with a 37-22 record, lifting trophies in Doha and Almaty.
