At the Accor Arena,
Usually the very beautiful showdown between Stefanos Tsitsipas and Ugo Humbert would have ignited Bercy.
And the Messin would have received a well-deserved ovation.
"I'm dead, slipped the French hot.
But I'm proud of the way I played.
I gave what I had.
I was mentally strong. ”
Titled in Antwerp ten days ago, Humbert had nothing to lose Tuesday night against Stefanos Tsitsipas, world number 6 and seeded 2 behind Nadal.
Born in 1998 and less than two months apart, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Ugo Humbert faced each other for the first time in their career on the circuit.
Sixth in the world and winner of the Masters 2019, the Greek is clearly ahead of Messin 34th in the world, but the latter was stronger than the prodigy on Tuesday evening.
Led 3-0, the French number 3 hung on and glued back to an increasingly imprecise Tsitsipas (20 unforced errors in the first set) and overwhelmed by Humbert in the decisive game (7-4).
His eighth decisive game won consecutively!
Full of confidence in this exercise, Messin concluded the round after 59 minutes of good outside service.
In the second act, Tsitsipas folded.
He conceded 4 break points in the eighth game, but was able to repel the assaults of the left-hander, very comfortable on his serve (72% of first balls, 81% of points won) And was very close to breaking in the second decisive game, then Humbert obtained three set points, before tensing.
On a huge forehand error from Messin, Tsitsipas stuck to a set everywhere after 2:20 of play. Despite heavy legs, Messin found the resources to win in the final decisive game.
With a final winning stroke, Humbert won the match, on the verge of cramps.
“I had recovered moderately from my first lap.
I went through all the states.
I gave everything up to the last point.
Mentally it's a great victory against a great player. "
In the round of 16 this Wednesday, the best French hope will face the multiple finalist in Grand Slam and winner of the US Open, the Croatian Marin Cilic.
The French at ease in the closed doors of Bercy
The camera, out of sight, is decidedly successful in tricolor tennis.
The results of the 1st of the Blues will remain very positive.
Six of the eight French entered will thus have completed the first round.
Richard Gasquet, Adrian Mannarino and Pierre-Hugues Herbert joined the three qualifiers for Monday, Benjamin Bonzi, Ugo Humbert and Corentin Moutet on Tuesday.
The 75th player in the world tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday and was unable to play his match against Marin Cilic.
After four consecutive defeats in the first round, Richard Gasquet found his way back to victory in the first round on Tuesday, dominating the American Taylor Fritz 6-0, 3-6, 6-3.
Grinning: “I hurt myself a bit after Antwerp, I had four or five days off and in the middle of last weekend I was not completely sure I was playing.
Every time I lose my rhythm and it's difficult to start again, that's why I lack a bit of engine, but I know that I will find it again. "
In the next round, Diego Schwartzman, recent semi-finalist of Roland-Garros and in the race to qualify for the Masters end of season in London.
Despite a painful right shoulder, Pierre-Hugues Herbert had the last word against Tennys Sandgren in the deciding game of the third set 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) after a little more than 2h15 of play. In the second round, the great Canadian Milos Raonic, 17th in the world, awaits him.
Two days after losing in the final in Astana in Khazastan, Adrian Mannarino, despite a very short preparation and painful blisters, had the last word against Serbian Dusan Lajovic 7-6 (7/5), 6-3.
He gave himself the right to face the Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka (51st) in the second round.
“I was a lot less tired than I expected, said the Valdoisien, almost surprised.
My loss in the final was a big disappointment.
Then we had a flight at 4 am
via
Russia to get here.
It was not an easy trip.
Knowing that with the new security measures, yesterday I was tested.
I had to wait for my test results.
I did not have access to the site.
I was unable to provide treatment, for example, because as long as I did not receive my negative result, I am not entitled to be in contact with physiotherapists, etc. ”
.
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