what can we expect from Ugo Humbert after his great epic at Paris-Bercy?

The young generation of Arthur Fils or Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard looks promising, but at Paris-Bercy, Ugo Humbert recalled that he too could take the spotlight and represent the future of French tennis, at 26 years old. Unhappy finalist against Alexander Zverev, Sunday November 3, Messin confirmed his rise in power seen at the start of the season. But he will have to be part of the continuity in 2025, when he will be more expected by his adversaries.

He started the season ranked 20th in the world and set himself the goal of reaching the top 10. A goal that made him “cramé” this season and with which he had difficulty living, he admitted at a press conference after his defeat in the final at Bercy. So for 2025, Ugo Humbert should not focus on the ranking, which will not, however, be synonymous with modest ambitions. With his offensive game and his left-handed serve which bothers his opponents, the Frenchman has the means to destabilize the best players in the world. What he already does with a balanced record against the top 5 (five victories and six defeats), while he may find himself in more difficulty against players ranked between 21st and 50th place in the world (36 victories, 44 defeats).

“He has progressed a lot physically and defensively. The challenge will be to be a little more consistent over a season”analyzes Arnaud Clément, Franceinfo:sport consultant. In 2024, Ugo Humbert had indeed started well with a third round at the Australian Open, but above all a victory at the ATP 250 from Marseille, and at the ATP 500 in Dubai, where he beat Hubert Hurkacz and Daniil Medvedev. But the expectations born from these successes mainly turned into disappointments over the following months, until his ATP final. 500 in Tokyo at the end of September, and therefore its final at Bercy.

“I’m not surprised to see myself at this level, to have beaten Alcaraz [en huitièmes de finale], to have been in the final of a Masters 1000. I felt capable of it. I do things well, I work seriously, I do everything well. I’m just happy it took this week but not surprised to see myself at this level, I’m on the right path”he savored at the end of the final. For him, the next step will be to shine at the Grand Slam. “Today, compared to what he has shown us this season, he cannot aim for less than a quarter or semi-final in the Grand Slam”assures Arnaud Clément.

Messin has so far never managed to break the glass ceiling of the round of 16, reached twice at Wimbledon, including this season, against Carlos Alcaraz, future winner of the tournament. “On a fast surface, he has a destabilizing game for everyone, and there are Grand Slams with fast surfaces like the US Open, Wimbledon, and the Australian Open is not particularly slow eithernotes Arnaud Clément. But this tennis, which he is capable of holding in three sets, will also have to be held over five sets. His game is so precise and precise, with balls that sometimes brush against the net, that a slight drop in the level of energy, in the precision of his footwork, will make it more difficult for him to set up his tennis”.

A fine observer, Alexander Zverev analyzed that Ugo Humbert was “one of the best players when he is aggressive, but he still struggles when he has to defend”. This is one of the Frenchman’s areas of improvement. “This winter, I am ready to work very hard physically. In terms of tennis, I feel that there is still a lot of progress to be made. I am putting a little more emphasis on my forward game, at net, I think it will help me win a lot of matches”he said at a press conference. The integration of Fabrice Martin, a doubles specialist, into his staff goes in this direction.

Now there remains the question of clay, the surface on which he feels least comfortable. This season, despite a surprising quarter-final in Monte-Carlo, which shows that Messin is adapting little by little, he was once again eliminated in the first round at Roland-Garros, where he only won one match in six appearances in the final draw. “I don’t expect anything on this surface, I know that it’s not the one where my game is best expressed”told the Monde in April the one who learned tennis on carpet, a fast surface.

But before thinking about the 2025 season, Ugo Humbert is expected on Tuesday at his home in Metz, for the first round of the Moselle Open (ATP 250) of which he is the title holder. Now 14th in the world, he knows that he will be watched more than ever. But his new ranking, if he maintains it or improves it, could also in the future allow him to obtain more lenient draws as top seed. A parameter that can change a lot of things, especially in a Grand Slam tournament.