Red-hot Humbert stuns top seed Medvedev to reach Dubai final
Ugo Humbert defeated Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-3 on Friday evening. He’ll play Kazakh Alexander Bublik, the No 7 seed, for the title
Ugo Humbert, Dubai 2024 – © Kamran Jebreili/AP/SIPA
Frenchman Ugo Humbert said he played almost “the perfect match” as he upended top seed Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-3 to reach the final of the Dubai Open on Friday evening.
Fifth seed Humbert, ranked No 18, clinched his fourth win over a top-five player with some outstanding tennis as he reached his second final of the year, having won the title in Marseille last month. He’ll play Kazakh Alexander Bublik, the No 7 seed, who reached the final when Andrey Rublev was defaulted late in the third set.
“I played a perfect match today,” Humbert said. “One of my best ever matches, I think.”
“With my title at the beginning of the year I had a lot of confidence, I tried to bring everything on the court and I played a great level. I am super-happy with my level.
“I have a good statistic in finals (5-0). Hopefully I can win it, and keep this statistic.”
Medvedev “missing 5 percent”
This was Medvedev’s first event since the Australian Open, where he reached the final, and the Russian admitted he was slightly undercooked coming in.
“Except for the match with (Alessandro Davidovich) Fokina, I was missing 5 percent of something on the court,” Medvedev told reporters.
“Would it be energy, would it be practice? I didn’t practice much after the Australian Open. Could be just because some weeks in the year are like this. Today against a very good opponent who had this fire, I lost. Sometimes that’s how tennis matches are. Hopefully I can turn it around next tournament.”
The Frenchman beat wildcard Gael Monfils (4-6, 6-3, 6-3), Andy Murray (6-2, 6-4) and Pole Hubert Hurkacz, the No 3 seed (3-6, 7-6 (8), 6-3) ahead of his victory.
Earlier in the tournament, Medvedev, ranked No 4, defeated Kazakh Alexander Shevchenko (6-3, 7-5), Italian Lorenzo Sonego (3-6, 6-3, 6-3) and Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, the No 8 seed (6-2, 6-3).
Dubai ATP 500, other semi-final result (Aviation Club Tennis Centre, hard, USD 2.941.785):
- Alexander Bublik beat Andrey Rublev (2): 6-7 (4), 7-6 (5), 6-5
