Ugo Humbert produced a superb win over Carlos Alcaraz to reach the Quarter-Finals of the 2024 Paris Masters. The Spaniard who was favourite for the title spoke afterwards. He lauded the Frenchman for victory.
Alcaraz said he gave it all he got but that Humbert was the better man on the day in the end and that is why he won. The Frenchman continues to excel on home soil.
“Well, I think I could play better. I think that's obvious. But, you know, with the level that I had today, I think I compete, I gave everything. You know, I fought until the last point… I have to congratulate Ugo. I think his performance has been really high. You know, the way he hits the ball is unbelievable. It's amazing," said Alcaraz.
"I think every time that he plays against me, I feel like he increase his level. He plays a really high level of tennis. I think in Paris even more so. So congratulations to him, and good luck.”
But he also spoke about the conditions and he said he didn't understand why the courts were made faster calling them 'crazy'. Albeit it is the final year it is played in Bercy with the tournament moving over to La Nanterre next year.
“Well, not really. I mean, it is very difficult to play in these conditions. For me, for my level, I try to change up as much as I can to this court, to this speed. I thought that it suits pretty well to my game, but it doesn't.
When I play against someone like Ugo that he doesn't let you, you know, get rhythm into the match, he plays probably, every time at his 100%, really flat. So I couldn't play a good tennis.
"You know, I practice at home but it isn't the same... So I’m not surprised about my level, about my game, but I’m surprised about everything a little bit.”
“Well, not indoor courts. This court. I mean, I don't want to say something that there is going to sound like an excuse. You know, first of all, Ugo deserves to win, that's obvious. But it depends. Because I play, for example, the Davis Cup indoor court, and the court was way slower than this one.
So, I mean, when I played the first match, the stats came out that it is the fastest court in the Masters 1000, probably on the tour right now. This is crazy. I don't know. Probably the fastest one in the last ten years in this tournament.
So I don't know why they do it. I don't know why they have changed a lot, you know, a court from other tournaments and obviously in the same tournament, comparing to other years. So it surprised me a little bit, so I came here with not too many days. Probably I had to come earlier to get used to these conditions but I didn't. But, you know, honestly all I can say is I don't understand why they did it.”
Carlos Alcaraz says the conditions at the Paris Masters are really difficult for him, he doesn’t understand why they’ve made the court so much faster “Carlitos, is there anything that you're very surprised with in terms of your performance? Very surprised?” Carlos: “Well, not…
