Ugo Humbert: 'It is one of my biggest wins, and I'm proud of myself'

On Sunday, Ugo Humbert became the sixth player with multiple ATP titles in 2020. Humbert claimed the first ATP crown at the beginning of the season in Auckland, entering the top-40 at the end of September. After a tight St. Petersburg loss to Andrey Rublev, Humbert defeated five rivals to claim the second ATP title in Antwerp, becoming the sixth player with multiple trophies in 2020. In the semis, Ugo fended off four match points against Daniel Evans, setting the title clash against another young gun Alex de Minaur. Humbert toppled de Minaur 6-1, 7-6 in an hour and 37 minutes, earning 250 points and becoming world no. 32. The Frenchman delivered more efficient numbers behind the second serve, never losing serve and leaving the opponent far behind in the opener. Alex bounced back in set number two, reaching the tie break but losing it 7-4 to hand the title to his opponent. A left-hander held at love in the first game with four booming serves, earning a break a few minutes later after a forehand error from Alex.

Ugo fended off a break chance in the third game with a service winner, closing the game with another one to move 3-0 in front. Humbert saved another break chance with a service winner in game five, converting the fourth opportunity in the marathon game six to gain a 5-1 lead. The Frenchman secured the opener with another powerful serve in game seven, moving a set away from the title after 38 minutes. De Minaur held at the beginning of the second set with a service winner, producing another one at 1-1 to remain in front. Humbert leveled the score at 2-2 with a volley winner before the Aussie held at love. Following that pace, Ugo held at love with an ace, with only eight points for the returners in the opening six games.

Ugo Humbert is thrilled with the way he performed in Antwerp.

There were no troubles for the servers in games seven and eight, staying neck and neck before Alex sprayed a forehand error to face two break points at 4-4. With no room for mistakes, de Minaur saved both and held after a lucky net cord winner, forcing Ugo to serve for staying in the set. The Frenchman brought the game home with a volley winner to level the score at 5-5, reaching the tie break after two comfortable holds on both sides. From 3-1 up, de Minaur lost four points in a row to find himself 5-3 down, spraying a forehand mistake to offer two match points to Humbert at 4-6. The Frenchman converted the first with a volley winner, securing the second title of the season and moving closer to the place in the top-30. 

"It is one of my biggest wins. I'm super happy to win my second title this year against a great player. I was aggressive like the previous matches, and I'm thrilled about going all the way. Tennis is completely crazy sometimes. It was great to win against Evans yesterday after saving four match points. I don't know what happened today; it was a nice level, a great match. I think I played nicely on key points. In the tie-break, I tried to play point-by-point and stay focused. I did that, and I'm proud of myself," Ugo Humbert said.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/37LOzXd