White sweater from the famous crocodile brand, dark blue jeans, Ugo Humbert arrives relaxed at a press conference, Tuesday November 5. The Messin should theoretically have been on the court almost at the same time to attack a second title in a row at the Moselle Open, against his compatriot Hugo Gaston. Except that the Rolex Paris Masters happened there and Messin had the best run of his career in a tournament of this size. Five victories, including an anthology against the new Spanish king of clay Carlos Alcaraz until the final against the German mountain Alexander Zverev, impossible to climb.
An avalanche of emotions, psychological decompression and, above all, a squealing body at the end of the season got the better of him. The 14the world player came to explain this decision which was both heartbreaking and wise. For almost 15 minutes, he doesn't tell it to himself, but tells it easily, with simplicity, modesty, a touch of shyness, but above all a lot of sincerity. The darling of the courts is just as endearing outside and will see you again next year.
You have decided to withdraw from this Moselle Open, Monday November 4, after a night of reflection and the final of the Rolex Paris Masters. The body no longer followed…
Ugo Humbert: “That’s exactly it. There was no lack of desire to play here, at home, in this tournament which means so much to me and of which I was the defending champion. But I'm not a robot. I drew heavily on my reserves physically and mentally last week at the Rolex Paris Masters. I have pain everywhere. It made no sense to appear on the court in this state. I am obviously disappointed not to play, but I preferred to make this decision which seems coherent to me. »
If you had been exempted from the first round with a first match on Wednesday, would you have tried to play?
“No, I don’t think so. I played all last week on anti-inflammatories. My back hurts a lot and even more so since I stopped. It really wouldn't have been a good idea to line up this week, no matter what day I started. »
You have retained your status as French number 1. You finished the 2023 season in twentieth place in the world. You gained six places this time, without managing to enter the Top 10. Are you satisfied with your season?
“This is clearly the best season of my career. I won the Open 13 in Marseille and Dubai, played in the final in Tokyo and a first in Masters 1000, in Paris. I returned to the second week in a Grand Slam tournament, at Wimbledon. It was also very important to me. I am very satisfied with what I have achieved in 2024.”
What is your program in the coming days?
“I am one of the players who played the most matches during the season. I even played too much in my opinion. Sometimes I have had too many tournaments. To perform well, you have to be mentally, physically and mentally fresh. The players are playing so well that you have to be at 100% to beat them. I'm going to cut for two big weeks before preparing for a month for the next season. But before that, I'm going to spend time with my parents and my sister. »
Are you going to review your programming for next season to continue your rise?
“When you are one of the best players on the planet, you have the luxury of doing your programming, targeting your main objectives and really choosing the most important tournaments, those during which you have to bring out your best tennis to win big points ATP. This is not the case when you are sailing around the fiftieth place in the world. I will be able to do that because this is the second year where I am well established in the Top 20.”
Is the Top 10 the goal for next season?
“I started 2024 very well. Getting into the Top 10 has become an obsession. I was getting closer, I climbed to thirteenth place in the world. Without realizing it, I wasted a lot of energy chasing this goal. I was often disappointed after a poor performance and sometimes had difficulty moving on. Now I just want to do things well and prepare properly for the big events. If it has to be done, it will be done. If I continue to be serious, to work well, there is no reason why I cannot join. »
How do you feel coming back a year after your coronation at the Moselle Open?
“I experienced the most intense moment of my career by winning the Moselle Open last year. Even being here behind this microphone and in front of you, it feels strange because I had the trophy next to me (smile). I'm happy to be with the tournament organizers or with my sponsors. It's always a pleasure to be here. »
And since then, with this final at the Rolex Paris Masters, is it still the most intense moment of your career?
“It’s different because there is a personal and emotional connection here. I have been coming to Moselle since I was 8 years old. It was by coming to this tournament during my youth that I wanted to become a professional tennis player and do what I do now. This title in Metz still remains the most important in my eyes. »
Is it possible to see you on the court on Saturday to present the trophy to the winner?
“I don’t know yet, I don’t know my exact schedule until the end of the week (laughs). »
By the numbers
13
Ugo Humbert has won 13 of his last 14 matches played indoors in France. Winner of four matches during his coronations at the Moselle Open 2023, then at the Open 13 in Marseille, he added five more to his collection at the Rolex Paris Masters before stumbling on the last step.
14
Ugo Humbert finished this season in fourteenth place in the world, six places better than last season.
2
Messin added two new lines to his list of achievements in 2024: the Open 13 in Marseille against the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov and, above all, the ATP 500 in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) against the Kazakh Alexander Bublik. We must add two finals, lost, against Arthur Fils in Tokyo (Japan) and therefore the German Alexander Zverev at the Rolex Paris Masters.
