Ugo Humbert beat Marin Cilic in the round of 16 of the Masters 1000 at Paris-Bercy, November 5, 2020. -

Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP

The FFT should have put a sign at the entrance to the Accord Hotel Arena.

“Be careful, one (H) Ugo can hide another.

"A month after Hugo Gaston's fine career at Roland Garros (defeat in the round of 16 in straight sets against Thiem after having taken out Wawrinka), it was Ugo Humbert's turn to treat us, this time at the Masters 1000 in Paris- Bercy.

In full progress this year, the 22-year-old left-hander, after having taken out Stefanos Tsitsipas in the previous round, beat Marin Cilic, former winner of the US Open, on Thursday to offer his first quarter-final in a tournament of this importance. .

Sacred year for Humbert

" It's awesome !

In Rome, I was not far away.

There, I am really very happy, even if it is not an end in itself, he reacted a few minutes after having made fold the Croatian.

I don't put myself under pressure on the end result.

My goal is to progress, to find things in myself.

I am happy to be here today.

"

Humbert is learning at top speed V. Winner of his first two tournaments this year, in Aukland in January and in Antwerp ten days ago, the Messin has found unsuspected resources to overcome Cilic.

Tuesday evening, he had fought for more than three hours, finishing the 6th world at past midnight.

So the legs were still a bit heavy at the start of the match.

Since mid-September, Ugo Humbert beat ...


⚫1 winner of Grand Slam


↪Cilic


⚫1 Masters champion


↪Tsitsipas


⚫2 winners Masters 1000


↪Fognini


↪Medvedev


⚫1 dual Grand Slam finalist


↪Anderson


⚫1 half double


-Grand

Slam

finalist ↪Carreño Busta

- julien reboullet (@ djub22) November 5, 2020

It was not seen too much, the French leading quickly 3-0 before pocketing the first set, 6-3.

But fatigue caught up with him in the second, and we feared the explosion in flight when he conceded it in the tie-break.

But Humbert has found the solution.

Since the legs were difficult to follow, he used his noggin.

“It was tough today.

I knew it would be complicated, but I held on, especially mentally, he explained.

I believed in it from start to finish.

Even when I lost the second, I didn't panic.

In fact, I wanted too much control when I couldn't get through the ball.

So I trusted myself and told myself to let go of my punches.

I knew that on a few points I could tell the difference.

I stepped back on his serve, waited for my chance and took it.

"

The look ?

"I don't worry, anyway it doesn't help"

After having broken at 3-2, he did not let go of the piece and "did not doubt when concluding" on his service.

Solid.

It will still be today against Milos Raonic, a big guy who serves the lead and distributes the breeze blocks.

" Tomorrow is another day.

I'm not worried, it doesn't help anyway, he swept away.

I am able to recover quickly.

"

Whatever happens, Humbert, 34th in the world but one of the 20 best players of the season, confirms his immense potential.

It is settling down firmly in the gratin.

To really do well, there will soon be only a few English lessons missing.

It would allow him to spend more serene moments in front of the foreign press, more and more intrigued by the rising Frenchie.

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