Humbert’s emotional classic win
Ugo Humbert claimed his first ATP Tour singles title on Saturday when he beat fellow Frenchman Benoit Paire 7-6 (2), 3-6, 7-6 (5) in the final of the ASB Classic.
The Humbert, 21, playing in his first tour final, lived up to his reputation as one of the next generation of tennis stars when he edged the more-experienced Paire in a match that lasted more than 21⁄2 hours.
Humbert beat Casper Ruud, second-seeded Canadian Denis Shapovalov and fourth-seeded two-time champion John Isner on his way to his first career final.
He then endured a tumultuous final set in which he served for the tournament at 5-3, held a championship point on Paire’s serve at 5-4 and had to go deep into a tiebreaker to finally clinch a breakthrough victory.
‘‘It was the tournament of revenge,’’ Humbert said. ‘‘I’ve lost against four of the five players I played so it’s a great improvement for me and I couldn’t dream of a better beginning of this year.’’
Paire was below his best for much of the match. He incurred two point penalties for ball or racket abuse on his way to the final and was warned again Saturday for hitting a ball out of the stadium. He then engaged in a long debate with the chair umpire over a particular point and the dispute seemed to lift him in the final set when he made Humbert fight for his win.
The match was as close as the form of both players in the past week suggested. Humbert has been strong on serve, putting 66 per cent of first serves in play and winning 86 per cent of first serve points — the best record at the tournament.
“I don’t know if I realised what I did today but I’m extremely happy about my first ATP Title.
Paire says it’s tough to lose after staging a great fightback – but Humbert deserves his win.
“It’s good for him, first time in a final first time he won a title -
he’s a good friend and honestly he’s playing very well since the beginning of the week.”
In the doubles final Kiwi born Ben Mclachlan, of Japan, and Great Britain’s Liam Bambridge were too strong for Kiwi Marcus Daniel and Austrian Phillip Oswald in the final winning 7-6 (3) 6-3.
The ASB Classic title is the Japanese-british duos first title together and is Mclachlan’s second in a row at the ASB Classic.
“It means a lot to win this tournament again – like I said last year I grew up watching this tournament and I was a ball kid here.”
AAP