Just arrived, already on the plane. For (too) many French people involved in the Australian Open, the adventure is already over. Starting with one of the great hopes of his generation, Ugo Humbert, released by the local John Millman (47th) after a battle in four sets 7-6 (7/3), 6-3, 1-6, 7- 5.
A few days after winning his first ATP title in Auckland, the 21-year-old was very marked by this express elimination. "I'm touched, it's not easy. It's tennis, you can go in a few days from a superb victory to a very bad match so I'm very disappointed. I expected to do better, I wanted to do better, "he said on the verge of tears.
Everything is going well for the French clan, who as expected, has just seen Moutet and Humbert get out in the first round despite their preparations for high levels # OA2020
- The Parisian titi (@ Letitiparisien1) January 21, 2020The march was also too high for Corentin Moutet: the 70th world was logically but sharply beaten by the ex-world number 3 Marin Cilic (now 39th) 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. Ditto for Adrian Mannarino (44th) overtaken by Dominic Thiem (5th) 6-3, 7-5, 6-2.
In the women's category, Kristina Mladenovic is also leaving Australia despite the confidence accumulated by her victory against the world number 1 Ashleigh Barty in early November in the Fed Cup final. The tricolor could not do anything against the world number 2 Karolina Pliskova. Pauline Parmentier, who played her last Australian Open before retiring at the end of the season, lost but having "burst on the court" against the Chinese Qiang Wang (7-6 (7 / 2), 6-3).
It goes for Garcia and Pair
On the side of the good news (because there is all the same) Caroline Garcia and Benoît Paire qualified well, but it was hard. Crowned by his Fed Cup victory, won in Australia, Garcia gave up a set to Madison Brengle (95th), before taking the upper hand. The 46th world won 6-7 (5/7), 6-2, 6-2.
Pair, he made the Pair… Between a pain inside the right thigh and mountains of direct faults (75 in total against 48 to his opponent), the N.21 at ATP put almost 3:30 to win against the German Cedrik-Marcel Stebe (154th) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-7 (2/7), 6-0.
"Hit the ball, hit the ball, come on, come on! What invective did it take to get the upper hand. "Apply! "," What is this hand! Yelled sometimes to criticize themselves, sometimes even more bluntly, sometimes to encourage each other.
Ultimately, the 30-year-old Avignonese runner-up in Auckland on Saturday will play the second round in Melbourne for the first time since 2017, when he reached the third round, his best result in the Australian Major, already achieved in 2014.
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ALG with AFP