Ugo Humbert retraces his journey before facing Alexander Zverev in Melbourne (Australian Open)

When he enters the John Cain Arena, a few minutes before challenging world number 2 Alexander Zverev in the round of 16 of the Australian Open, Ugo Humbert will perhaps think of Patrick Labazuy and Rodolphe Gilbert. These two believed in this lanky and fragile kid when he himself didn't believe in it, when his friends at the France center in Poitiers made fun of him or when certain Insep coaches snubbed him. Years later, the 26-year-old Messin, 14th in the world and French number 1, looks back on the periods of doubt and the obstacles that he overcame one after the other during his training.