As radiant as ever, Ugo Humbert is enjoying reaching the last four for the first time in a Masters 1000. And what's more, at home, on “his” Central.
On his quarterfinal victory : “I had a very solid match, from start to finish. And particularly a great first set. I started very well by being, as usual, ultra-aggressive. I let go of my punches pretty quickly. I felt like I was getting ahead of him. In the second, he served better, I had fewer chances. I had two match points where, unfortunately, I got the returns in the racket, but I missed. I just keep telling myself: “you’re in the game, do your thing, it will pass”. I conceded the break right after. I felt pain in my foot on a support. It got stuck a bit. The next game, he gave me a few seconds, which completely changed the nature of the match. I made exceptional points at the end to take the victory.”
On his painful foot: “No, it’s better. The physiotherapist was there. He mobilized me. He wanted to strap me but I didn't feel it. He told me to keep going a little, that maybe something had moved and that it would get better. I gritted my teeth for the next two or three points, and after that it was better. I'm not more worried than that. I'm going to do my treatments, he's going to watch. There will be no problem.”
On the Bercy Central : “As soon as I enter the court, I try to treat myself to another moment in this center, which is incredible with 15,000 people. As soon as I'm on the court, I'm ready for anything. I play with my heart. This is what I tell myself all the time. The solutions come to me. I'm never too worried. I really play by listening to myself, with a great feeling, and that's why in the end, I'm able to make incredible shots to win.”
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Fatigue is like a cloud, it passes.
Ugo Humbert
On his mental progress : “It’s a continuation. I'm glad it's happening now. What also makes me play well is that I detached myself a little from the result. So, it's a little easier. I wasn't worried. I got broken. I said to myself: “if there is a third set, there is a third set”, I had no choice. I said to myself: “you are capable of coming back, if you have the slightest opportunity, you will be there”. I really felt in incredible concentration and at the end completely transcended to go for victory. I remembered a few matches where I was sometimes wait-and-see during important moments. I wanted to be master of my destiny. I said to myself: “if you fail, you fail, but at least there will be nothing to regret”. So I prefer to go and miss, rather than wait and see and have the guy say: “he played well”. I’m happy to get both shots at the end to win.”
On the sequence of matches : “I feel good. Yesterday (Thursday), I went to bed late around 2 a.m., time to do the press, shower, eat and do the treatments. The excitement must subside, it's not easy to fall asleep. Earlier, I really liked what the psychologist told me: fatigue is like a cloud, it passes. I don't pay attention to it. I say to myself: “we are here”. I’m making the most of it.”
On his incredible point in defense in the tie-break : “I felt like Alcaraz! I said to myself: “but wait, what am I doing?”. When I saw the first lob and the smash was a little hard, I anticipated the good side. I see that she passes very close to the sign. I say to myself: “maybe she’ll touch it”. I see she is perfect. After the last lob, I said to myself: “it’s monstrous!”. I'm hanging on until the end. He misses. I said to myself: “it’s time to go after the public to make them a little stressed”. When you feel like there are 15,000 people against you, that helps too. The point was incredible.”
Comments collected at a press conference
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