For the third time in three oppositions in 2022, Ugo Humbert gave in to Australian Alex De Minaur (21st in the world). After a setback during the ATP Cup then another, more recently, in Barcelona, the Frenchman (45th in the world) ended up giving in in the round of 16 of the Lyon tournament, in three sets (1-6, 6-3, 6-2).
And the Messin can feed a lot of regret in view of a match he had taken by the best end, achieving an almost perfect first set in intensity, forward commitment and aggressiveness. Totally overwhelmed, Alex De Minaur, seeded No. 4 of the tournament, was going to have the intelligence to change the situation a little, by varying the tempos and above all by using cushioning with an almost diabolical efficiency.
Yet Humbert was still perfectly in the nails in the second set. In the fight, he was only going to miss a bit of success, a bit of audacity sometimes, on the point which could have made him switch to a success in two sets. On the first four games back, Humbert got eleven break points! But he didn’t convert any. The Australian rushed into the breach at 3-4 and snatched the Frenchman’s serve to come back level in the match.
Humbert was touched. Mentally and physically. The Frenchman saved three break points consecutively on his first face-off of the last set, but he gave it up shortly afterwards, logically, at 2-2. He would then not have a single opportunity to return to the game.
