Frenchman Ugo Humbert qualified this Monday for the final of the ATP 500 tournament in Tokyo by beating Czech Tomas Machac in three sets 6-3, 3-6, 6-2. The French number 1 and 19th in the world will face the winner of the match between his compatriot Arthur Fils and the Dane Holger Rune for the title.
Messin first started by suffocating his opponent in the first set by leaving him no room to play his game. Result: a first round in the pocket. Ten winning shots and a first service ball which hurt his opponent. The rest was more complicated, Humbert lowered his intensity and Tomas Machac was sharper to win, 6-3 in the second set.
The third set was similar to the first. The Mosellan broke at 3-2 to fall behind (6-2). Humbert will face another Frenchman this Tuesday in the final in Japan. Arthus Fils (24th in the world) beat the Dane Holger Rune after two tight tie-breaks 7-6 (10/8), 7-6 (12/10) and after an absolutely sensational match point. This will be the first time in seven years that two French people will face each other in the final of a tournament of this importance.
Ugo Humbert will seek to win a seventh title in his career on the main circuit after those of Auckland (2020), Antwerp (2020), Halle (2021), Metz (2023), Marseille (2024) and Dubai (2024). It would be the third in this ATP 500 category.
Arthur Fils will aim for a third title after those of Lyon (2023) and Hamburg (2024).
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