Ugo Humbert has revenge to take. Heavily beaten (6-2, 6-2) by Alexander Zverev in the final at Bercy in early November 2024, the 14th player in the world is preparing to meet the German again, this time in the southern hemisphere, on the occasion of ‘a round of 16 which promises to be hot at the Australian Open.
After a controlled first week, marked by successes in three sets over Matteo Gigante and Hady Habib and a victory after abandonment against his compatriot Arthur Fils, the protégé of Jérémy Chardy will move up a gear, he who always runs behind a first Grand Slam quarter-final.
After equaling his best performance in a Major (two 8ths at Wimbledon in 2019 and 2024), Humbert is still hungry and will have to let go of the horses if he wishes to overcome an imperial Zverev since the start of the tournament. Twelve lost games against Lucas Pouille, six against Pedro Martinez and eleven against Jacob Fearnley: the second player in the world went through his first three rounds at full speed. He will also leave with the psychological advantage, Humbert having admitted to having been marked by his big defeat at Bercy.
-If the Frenchman had missed out for the last ‘at the Accor Arena, physically exhausted, he has already defeated Zverev in his career: it was in 2021, in Halle, on grass (7-6 [4]3-6, 6-3). Another era, and another surface, which does not prevent Messin from believing in his chances: “I am capable of beating the very best. When I get on court, I believe in it 100% every time, from start to finish. I have no choice, I will have to beat these kinds of players,” he declared at a press conference on Friday.
The round of 16 of the Australian Open between Ugo Humbert and Alexander Zverev will be followed this Sunday, not before 8 a.m. French time, on Eurosport.
