On a day which also saw Adrian Mannarino triumphant at the Sofia Open, it was double French delight as
Moselle Open Metz on Saturday went the way of
Ugo Humbert as his renaissance continued.
Humbert won Halle in 2021 and had numerous health issues after one of the best wins of his career with an extremely tough two years following. He dropped out of the top 150 and had to rebuild.
This year has seen that revival come to fruition as he has won multiple Challenger Tours, seen off multiple top players and wins Metz reaching the top 20 of the world for the first time in his career. This like alluded to in a period for French Men's tennis which has seen Mannarino at 35 playing the best he has ever played and winning three titles this season, Humbert is keeping pace in an era heading towards post Gael Monfils and of course previously Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and still at times Richard Gasquet.
He took a 3-1 lead early doors in the tie and held his next service games to seal the opening set. Shevchenko in his first ATP final saved two break points in the fifth game of the second set, but succumbed eventually with Humbert hitting the mark at 4-3 sealing it on his second match point 6-3, 6-3.
He adds to titles in Antwerp, Auckland in 2020 as well as the aforementioned Halle crown and he called it a dream.
“It was my dream when I was young to win this tournament. It’s just amazing. I have a lot of feelings now. I can’t describe it. It’s so incredible to win here in my hometown. To finish strong like this, it’s just an amazing. I have a lot of feelings now. It’s incredible to win here in my hometown in front of my family. To finish strong like this, it’s just an amazing feeling”, said Humbert.
