Prophet in his country. This Saturday, French No.1 Ugo Humbert (23rd) won the ATP 250 tournament in Metz, on his home soil, by dominating Russian Alexander Shevchenko (63rd) 6-3, 6-3 on Saturday, winning a fourth title which will allow him to enter the Top 20 for the first time on Monday.
Imperial on serve (three points lost in the first set) and very solid on the return, the 25-year-old Messin confirmed his excellent end to the year by winning his first final of a tournament of this level this season.
“A childhood dream”
After three shutouts at the start of the match, Shevchenko was the first to let go, finding himself trailing 3-1 then 4-1. Humbert once again took his opponent’s service before concluding the first set with an ace (6-3).
The second set was a little closer, up to 3-3. The Frenchman then multiplied the climbs to the net and made his rival run to win the last three games.
“It’s just incredible for me to win this tournament, I’m very moved,” said Ugo Humbert, after a colorful musical entertainment for the twenty years of the Moselle Open. “I’m making a childhood dream come true.”
The first since Monfils
But Shevchenko, surprising winner of his compatriot Karen Khachanov (15th) in the quarter, also “lived a dream in Metz” by reaching the first final of a tournament of this scale, at 22 years old. “It was a big week for me,” he said.
Neck and neck for the French number one place with Adrian Mannarino, winner a little earlier of the fifth title of his career in Sofia, Ugo Humbert will enter the Top 20 in the ATP ranking on Monday (20th), for the first time in his career.
No Frenchman has reached such a rank since veteran Gaël Monfils in August 2022.
A fantastic comeback
It is all the more spectacular for Messin as it started the year above 80th place, before beginning its rise in the spring.
His three previous titles on the main circuit came in Antwerp and Auckland in 2020, then Halle, on grass, the following year.