Outstanding Humbert stuns Alcaraz to storm into Paris Masters quarter-finals
The Frenchman toppled world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 in front of delirious home support to reach the last eight of the Paris Masters in dazzling style
Ugo Humbert, Rolex Paris Masters 2024 | © Chryslène Caillaud / Panoramic
Ugo Humbert gave his home crowd a night they will never forget as he surged into the quarter-finals of the Paris Masters with a spectacular 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 victory over Carlos Alcaraz on a thunderous night inside the Accor Arena.
It is the Frenchman’s first victory over the world No 2, with the pair’s previous two meetings both coming earlier this year and going the way of the Spaniard.
But this was the first time they had played on French soil. At a tournament where vociferous home support has become a defining hallmark, this year the decibels feel that bit louder as Bercy – the happy home of the Paris Masters for 38 years – waves goodbye to the event in its final year as host.
In a nutshell, the Accor Arena was an absolute cauldron of feverish support for the 26-year-old Frenchman as a non-stop cacophony from the Parisian crowd more than played its part in a Bercy classic for the ages.
Humbert capitalises on uncharacteristically sluggish alcaraz
Humbert came flying out of the blocks, in contrast to the unusually tepid and slow start from Alcaraz. Breaking twice in the opening stanza, the world No 18 raced into a deserved one-set lead.
The Spaniard responded well with a break in the sixth game of the second set en route to levelling up the score, before a tense and tight decider followed.
The two remained on level pegging for the duration, until the twelfth and final game when Humbert saw his chance after a double-fault from Alcaraz handed the Frenchman a 0-30 advantage.
From there, he navigated his way to two match points at 15-40. After Alcaraz saved the first, a forehand from the Spaniard then sailed long as Humbert clinched one of the biggest wins of his career. Cue delirium.
One of the most striking aspects of this victory was how effectively Humbert harnessed the sheer force of the energy of the crowd to his advantage, using that to propel himself over the line as Alcaraz’s form deserted him in the final game.
“It’s difficult to play in these conditions, I need to get used to the speed. I thought I switched up my game pretty well but clearly I didn’t. Ugo plays very fast and I couldn’t play good tennis against him,” Alcaraz told reporters following the match.
“I have had successes here in Paris so the French people encouraged me a little bit. They were respectful, they were great, they were cheering on me a little bit.
“I could play better, but with the level I had today, I gave everything until the last point, so I have to congratulate Ugo. He played a very high level, the way he hits the ball is amazing.”
Humbert will go on to face Australian Jordan Thompson in the last eight in what he will view as a golden opportunity to progress to his first Paris Masters semi-final.
Thompson is an experienced and rock-solid competitor, but comes through a draw that could have pitted Casper Ruud against the Frenchman in the last four.
Whatever happens from here on in, however, Humbert has now written his name into the illustrious history books of the Accor Arena at the last opportunity to do so before the tournament moves home to La Défense in West Paris next season.
This has been a night to savour for all French tennis fans and beyond, as yet another wonderful sporting tale etches itself into Bercy’s storied tenure as the home of the Paris Masters.
