Ugo Humbert has delivered impressively on his home turf. He becomes the first French player to reach the Paris Masters final since 2011. The French tennis star hopes to become only the fourth Frenchman to win the event. He moved past Karen Khachanov 6-7(6), 6-4, 6-3 on home soil at the Paris Masters on Saturday to advance to his maiden final at Masters 1000 level.
However, he will have a difficult time against Alexander Zverev. Humbert, seeking his sixth tour-level trophy, will face Alexander Zverev in the championship match on Sunday. Zverev has won six Masters 1000 championships, two ATP Tour Finals, and an Olympic gold medal in Tokyo. Humbert won titles in Dubai and Marseille earlier this year, while Zverev won the ATP Masters 1000 in Rome.
Ugo Humbert will be the first French Masters 1000 finalist since Gael Monfils in 2016. The last Frenchman to win the title was Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in 2008. Humbert has a 13-match winning streak in indoor hard-court tournaments on French soil, whereas Zverev has not lost to a left-handed player since returning from an ankle injury in 2023. This is a replay of last year’s second-round encounter.
Ugo Humbert ready to exploit every flaw
Zverev won in an amazing close game last time around. In the semi-final of the Paris competition, Zverev produced a superb performance to outclass world number 13 Holger Rune 6-3 7-6 (7-4). The 27-year-old Roland Garros runner-up overcame a late double fault to finish the first set with 11 wins at a packed Palais Omnisports in Bercy. Rune increased his intensity by serving and volleying at times. But Zverev grabbed control in the tie-break, racing up 3-0.
Will Ugo Humbert’s sharp strategy to exploit the German’s weak spots? Humbert takes the ball early, which may pressure Zverev, but he must execute his strategy without making many mistakes. Zverev has the better serve, although Humbert’s left-handed serve will target his strength, his backhand. The audience can certainly be a factor, but if Zverev can handle it, he should win this match.
