Ugo Humbert Shines in Semi-Finals at ATP 500 Basel

He continues to confirm his return to his best level. For the third time this season (and the first in the ATP 500), Ugo Humbert will taste the pleasure of a semi-final on the circuit, in Basel. To do this, Messin got the better of local hero Dominic Stricker, 96th in the world, in three sets (6-4, 2-6, 6-2) and a little less than two hours of play (1h56 exactly) in quarter-final of the Swiss tournament. In the last four, he will cross swords with the Pole Hubert Hurkacz who overthrew Tallon Griekspoor (6-7, 6-4, 6-4).

How do you recognize a confident player? Beyond his success in taking initiatives, his ability to impose himself when the sensations are average. Ugo Humbert perfectly meets this definition this week. On alternating current in the 1st round against Marcos Giron, more convincing against Nicolas Jarry in the 2nd round, he again alternated between good and bad in the quarter-final this Friday evening. But he was able to finish strong to win the game.

An air hole without consequence

Despite a first ball at half-mast in the first act (only 39%), Humbert showed his consistency to take the best start, helped by Dominic Stricker who gave him three consecutive forehand gifts on his serve while he was down 5-4. But far from riding the wave, Messin saw his breakdown extend to the service, to the point of losing his first three engagements of the second act. His Swiss opponent did not need to be asked to fully return to the match and one could fear that the Frenchman had missed his chance.

But Humbert did not panic, despite a Basel audience won over to his rival’s cause. He was able to put the pressure back on Stricker, move him from one end of the court to the other and make the difference with his long-line forehand. A break at the start of the third round put him back on track and, as if by chance, the Frenchman found his first ball to protect himself. He even allowed himself to conclude on the recovery. This is promising a few days before the start of the Masters 1000 at Paris-Bercy. But in the semi-final, we will have to be more consistent against Hubert Hurkacz, in the race for a place at the Masters.

2023-10-27 18:01:00
#ATP #Basel #Ugo #Humbert #beats #Dominic #Stricker #reaches #semifinals #face #Hubert #Hurkacz