Source : Sport.fr
Every year, ambitious young players enter the ATP circuit, adding a certain spice to a tennis world sometimes considered too quiet.
Headliners at major tournaments, these new ambassadors of tennis unfortunately overshadow equally talented players who have yet to express the full extent of their potential.
While there are plenty of players in this category, one in particular is intriguingly unique.
After all, a player who regularly tops the Top 10 but struggles to beat players within his reach doesn't come along that often.
Although no longer considered one of the circuit's young gems, Ugo Humbert remains an anomaly on the circuit that deserves to be introduced.
Promising figure of French tennis, Ugo Humbert had a successful career in the early stages, as illustrated by his 3 ATP titles, one of which was won on the prestigious Halle grass court, his best performance to date.
A few seasons later and the Frenchman's situation is somewhat nuanced. Although Humbert is a player capable of many feats, especially at the end of the season, it remains clear that he has yet to demonstrate the full extent of his potential over a full season.
"You play amazing and you everything to be a really
great player"
Andrey Rublev
Left-handed serve, solid backhand, terrifying down the line forehands, intelligent approaches to the net, on the surface the 25-year-old has all the weapons to succeed.
So how to explain his inconsistency results on the main tour? Is there something wrong with Ugo Humbert?
In terms of playing ability, the French tennis star certainly doesn't seem to have anything to envy from the very best, as evidenced by his astonishing record against members of the top 10. (9 wins for 11 defeats).
The very best fear him, consultants predict him a brilliant future and his game seems flawless, so why isn't Ugo Humbert still a solid player on the ATP circuit, performing consistently during Grand Slams events?
Ugo Humbert after his win against Stefanos Tsitsipás at the Paris Master 1000 tournament. Source : France Bleu
Could the problem be a difficulty in coping with the pressure?
Then how to explain his 100% final win rate on the ATP circuit, when most players seem to be stuck on the last step of a tournament?
The answer may lies somewhere else, Ugo Humbert definitively is a complex case to analyze, but the root of all his misfortunes probably lies in one of the most basic dimensions of any competitor at any level : self-confidence.
Like many tennis players with ultra-offensive playing styles, the young Frenchman's results depend largely on his ability to have blind faith in the effectiveness of his shots.
"He's going to be a dangerous player when he will have experience under his belt"
Nick Kyrgios
After an outstanding end to the season, the Frenchman has once again demonstrated his ability to perform on fast surfaces in 2023.
Although Ugo Humbert has already reached a new level on clay this season, he will need to find a way to perform in the first half of the season if he aims to become one of the major players of the next season.
While the clay-court tour and Roland Garros in particular will undoubtedly be sensitive points in the young French rising star's season, the Australian and American tours scheduled at the beginning of the season could well be the opportunity for Umbert to climb the ATP rankings.
Who knows? the current 20th-ranked player in the world could well break into the very closed circle of the world's top 10 players during the 2024 season.
One thing is certain : in terms of his tennis level, the young Frenchman is capable of performing miracles.
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