Humbert continues to smile at life in Bercy.

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Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP

On the eve of Rafael Nadal's entry into the running, Ugo Humbert offered himself a prestigious victory against world No.6 and seeded No.2, Stefanos Tsitsipas, to reach the knockout stages of the Masters 1000 from Paris.

Humbert (22 years old, 34th) overcame Tsitsipas in three decisive games 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (7/3) after more than 3.15 hours of struggle.

Second victory against a top 10

This is the second victory of his young career against a Top 10. The first was at the expense of Daniil Medvedev, then world No. 5, in Hamburg at the end of September.

The Lorraine left-hander will face Marin Cilic, ex-World No. 3 today 43rd, for a place in the quarter-finals on Thursday.

3 hours and 17 minutes đŸ˜± @ HumbertUgo pulls off a stunner against No. 2 seed Tsitsipas 7-6 (4), 6-7 (6), 7-6 (3) đŸ”„



đŸŽ„: @TennisTV |

#RolexParisMasters pic.twitter.com/zGctK8TYjr

- ATP Tour (@atptour) November 3, 2020

This off day will not be too much for Humbert, who had to wait nearly an hour between his first three match points, in the tie-break of the second set (at 6-3) and his subsequent occasions, in a final tie-break (at 6-2).

“Physically, I am dead.

But I'm super happy, super proud of the match I played against one of the best players in the world, ”he said.

Crazy scenario

“The scenario of the match is crazy.

I had a tough match yesterday (against Ruud on Monday), physically it was not easy, I struggled to recover.

Then I tensed at the end of the second set.

I went through all the states but I gave everything until the last point, and I took my chance.

Mentally, it's a great victory, ”also said Humbert, exhausted but irreproachable in attitude.

The young Frenchman thus confirms his progress until then discreet but steady: barely in the Top 300 in mid-2018, he made a place for himself in the Top 100 at the end of 2018, started the year 2020 at the gates of the Top 50 and now points to those of the Top 30, with his trophy in Antwerp ten days ago, his second of the season after Auckland in January.

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