This year 2020, marked by the global Covid-19 pandemic, will not leave only bad memories.
And especially not to Ugo Humbert.
This very special year will thus remain that of his first title on the main circuit, won at Aukland at the start of the season against Benoît Paire.
In Antwerp, ATP 250 tournament, a little tougher, Messin won his second title and confirmed his good arrangements.
Outsider of his final against the Australian De Minaur, 29th in the world and quarter-finalist of the recent US Open, the number 3 tricolor was very solid.
THE most successful match of its great week.
Already a semi-finalist last year in Antwerp, he notably secured a major victory in the second round in Belgium by beating Pablo Carreno Busta, 15th in the world and recent semi-finalist at the US Open.
Messin has come a long way in this tournament as he also saved four match points on Saturday in the semi-final against Briton Daniel Evans.
“Tennis can be a really crazy sport sometimes!” He summed up.
He should be seeded at the Australian Open
He stands out as the most promising young Frenchman at a time when the tricolor succession is showing signs of concern, despite Hugo Gaston's recent coup at Roland Garros (round of 16).
38th in the world before this tournament, the left-hander of ASPTT Metz will move to 32nd place in the world on Monday, the best ranking of his young career.
Which should allow him to be seeded in the next Australian Open.
In January 2018, Ugo Humbert was still in 380th place on the circuit.
Far, very far from the best nuggets of his generation.
By leaps and bounds, Messin has jumped in the standings for two years by integrating the top 50 in the summer of 2019 and becoming the first French tennis player to participate in the Under-21 Masters Next Gen.
57th in the world at the start of the year, he has taken another step forward in this 2020 season marked by a five-month hiatus due to the health crisis.
In September, this specialist of fast surfaces, even offered on clay the scalp of Fognini in Rome and Medvedev in Hamburg.
He thus signed 5 victories against top 20 and a victory against a top 10 (Medvedev).
More powerful than a year ago, capable of serving regularly beyond 200 km / h on his first balls, the left-hander is getting closer to the best of his generation.
Best of all.
He must take a step forward in the biggest tournaments
It now remains to shine in the Grand Slams and the Masters 1000. Apart from his good career in London in 2019, where he was the youngest French to reach the round of 16 at Wimbledon since Richard Gasquet in 2007 (logical defeat against Djokovic) , the Messin, who has been playing without an appointed coach for several weeks, has never passed the second round in the six other Majors he has played.
He also failed five times in the 1st round of the six Masters 1000s he played in his young career.
This beautiful week in Belgium will strengthen his confidence to shine against the best.
A good omen before the Masters 1000 in Paris, which begins next Monday and where he will have the opportunity to grow further.
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Strong in the final against De Minaur, Ugo Humbert wins a second title on the main circuit