“There’s no reason why he shouldn’t be top 10” – Zverev on Humbert

Generally speaking, Alexander Zverev likes to play long matches – especially at the Rolex Paris Masters.

“Where the low bounce, combined with my big size, makes it difficult for me to make winning points,” said the German of the conditions at the tournament.

This is even more the case against French players. In 2020, it took him 3 hours to beat Adrian Mannarino in the third round. On Wednesday night, he took 3 hours and 29 minutes (a personal best for a match in two winning sets) to beat Ugo Humbert on the same court, at the end of a match that was as superb as it was brutal.

Broken in the third set and close to the exit, the former finalist (2020) was full of praise for the Lorraine native. “For me, Ugo is a player who should be in the top 20 and even better,” he said after his victory.

“He’s still got a lot of ups and downs but if he can find that consistency that he’s still missing and play the way he played tonight (Wednesday night), there’s no reason why he can’t be top 10.

“It’s rare to play against someone so aggressive and the fact that he’s left-handed makes him even more difficult to play. He serves well, he returns quickly, he has a good forehand, a good backhand… There’s not much he doesn’t know how to do.”

EVEN THOUGH I HAD 15,000 PEOPLE AGAINST ME, I HAD A LOT OF FUN. OVER THE YEARS, I LEARNED TO APPRECIATE SPECIAL MOMENTS AND THAT WAS REALLY THE CASE.

Alexander Zverev

Zverev admitted that if Humbert had continued to play the way he did between the end of the second set and the middle of the third, he probably would have lost the match.

But he took advantage of a slump in his opponent’s serve in the eighth game of the final set, one that turned out to be both long and pivotal, to break and ultimately stay alive.

It was a brilliant performance, in a predictably partisan atmosphere at the Accor Arena, which the German admits to having enjoyed.

“Honestly, it didn’t bother me at all, I love it,” he insisted.

“The atmosphere is always fantastic in France, especially of course when you play a Frenchman. And even though I had 15,000 people against me, I had a lot of fun.

“Over the years, I’ve learned to appreciate special moments and that was really the case in this game.”

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