Ugo Humbert defeated Carlos Alcaraz in the Paris Masters Round of 16 with a score of 6-1 3-6 7-5. This victory brings Humbert closer to his third hard-court title of the season, adding to his 2024 wins at the Open 13 and Dubai Tennis Championships. The 26-year-old win-loss record now stands at 40-22 for the season.
Match Overview
Humbert’s serving was effective, hitting eight aces and only three double faults, while Alcaraz managed seven aces but had five double faults. The Metz native converted three of his six break points, compared to the 21-year-old’s one out of four, and ended with 89 total points to Alcaraz’s 82. The French player won 64 service points and 13 service games, while the Spaniard won 50 service points and 11 service games. Humbert’s longest streaks were five consecutive games and six points in a row, whereas Alcaraz’s longest streaks were three games and five points.
The first set showed Humbert’s dominance, as he surged to a 5-0 lead before Alcaraz finally held serve. The 26-year-old steadier performance allowed him to close out the match, overcoming the four-time Grand Slam champion in a close third set.
What does this loss mean for Alcaraz?
Alcaraz has failed to win multiple Masters Series 1000 titles for the first time since 2021. He had won two Masters 1000 titles in 2022 and 2023 but has only won the Indian Wells Masters this season. On the indoor surfaces, his record falls even further as his only meaningful win has come against Jannik Sinner in the Beijing Open final.
Alcaraz will now go to Turin, where he has qualified for the ATP Finals. He has secured qualification for the third consecutive time after missing out in 2022 due to an injury. He reached the semifinals of the 2023 ATP Finals, losing to eventual champion Novak Djokovic.
Alcaraz will be one of the favorites for the title regardless of his loss in the Paris Masters. However, he sits behind Sinner in that bracket. The World No.1 has shown more success on hard courts than his great rival.
Ugo Humbert’s Next Match
In the quarterfinals, Humbert will face Jordan Thompson, who leads 1-0 in their hard-court head-to-head. The 30-year-old arrives in the quarterfinals after defeating Pedro Martínez (6-4, 6-4), Casper Ruud (7-6, 3-6, 6-4), and Adrian Mannarino (7-5, 7-6).
Apart from this Alcaraz win, Humbert’s journey to the quarterfinal included a three-set win over Brandon Nakashima (6-3, 4-6, 6-4) and a straightforward 6-3, 6-2 victory over Marcos Giron. The upcoming match should be a tight contest with both players in solid form.
Main Photo Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports
