For the third time, Ugo Humbert will play a round of 16 in a Grand Slam, this time at the Australian Open. But does the Frenchman really have a chance against Alexander Zverev, among the logical favorites for final victory?
As a Top 15 in the world and No. 1 in France, Ugo Humbert was logically the best tricolor card in this Australian Open. So far, Lorraine has responded. Unlike the majority of his previous Grand Slam appearances, he came 1- in the round of 16, and 2- having only dropped one set. This will be his third at this level.
The first two times were at Wimbledon, and clearly he hadn't been spoiled by the draw. Novak Djokovic in 2019, Carlos Alcaraz in 2024, each time the future winner of the tournament. And this time again, it will be one hell of a client on the road to a first Grand Slam quarter-final: Alexander Zverevthe world No. 2, reigning semi-finalist.
The good news is that the Frenchman has already beaten the German. The bad news is that it was in 2021, and the last two confrontations went in favor of the German. Notably the most recent, in the final of the Masters 1000 in Paris last November, the biggest final in the career of Humbert.
Which he unfortunately missed. The pressure of a first at this level in Masters 1000, of being the first Frenchman in the final of his tournament for more than ten years, was too strong for the Frenchman, who completely missed out on this major event. But what he had shown all week was a clear sign that a milestone was about to be reached.
So why not cross it at the Australian Open? Certainly, it can be argued that the Frenchman had his shoulder treated during his match against Arthur Sonbut what we can admire is a real solidity in important moments. Mainly in the first round against Matteo Gigantewho served for the second set but who folded under pressure from the Frenchman.
-Problem, he's going to come across a machine. Alexander Zverev has been on display since the start of the Australian Open. Three victories in three sets, never more than four games lost per set, 6h19 on court in total, a real walk in the park for the German, still looking for his first Grand Slam title.
Above all, he makes the powder speak. 33 winning shots on average, 11 aces per match, a striking force that almost makes you forget that “Sasha” withdrew from the final phase of the United Cup due to a biceps injury. No additional information on this state of affairs, but one thing is certain, if there is any discomfort, we have not seen any the color.
Above all, his domination is clear in the game. Few rallies beyond five strokes of the racket, but luckily, Humbert is on the same path. The iron pot against the iron pot, as during a clash in 2023, still in Bercy, which had accumulated 75 winning shots, and an outcome in the tiebreak of the third set… in favor of Zverev. But that day, the Frenchman had clearly demonstrated that he could compete.
This time, it is not a final, but “simply” a Grand Slam round of 16. But for Humbert, at 26, and if only considering the French competition (Arthur Fils, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricardamong others), this result is needed now. He beat Carlos Alcaraz at Bercy, he beat twice Daniil Medvedeva reference on hard, twice on this surface. But this benchmark victory in a Grand Slam is missing. It's your time to shine.
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