France’s Ugo Humbert has secured his spot in the final of the Japan Open 2024 after defeating Czech Republic’s Tomas Machac with a score of 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 on Monday. Humbert aims to maintain his perfect record in ATP finals, as he remains unbeaten in all six previous championship matches.
The 26-year-old, currently ranked 19th in the world, has already celebrated victories in Dubai and Marseille this year and is eager to add another title to his collection in Tokyo. “When you’re in the final, it’s sad to lose the last match,” Humbert remarked. “I love to play finals because it’s a big chance to win a title, and that’s why I think I’m pretty good. I always say, you don’t have to play a final; you have to win it.”
In the final, Humbert will face either fellow Frenchman Arthur Fils or Denmark’s Holger Rune. Fils is scheduled to compete against the sixth seed Rune later on Monday. If Fils emerges victorious, it would mark the first all-French final on the ATP tour in four years. Humbert expressed excitement at the possibility, saying, “If Arthur wins, it’s going to be a great final for French tennis. It will not be easy because it’s a friend.”
During his match against Machac, Humbert initially took control, but the Czech player rallied to claim the second set. In the decisive third set, Humbert made a critical break, taking a 4-2 lead. “First, I talked to myself because I felt so low on energy,” Humbert shared regarding his mindset entering the final-set. “I tried to activate something and just played every point like it was 100 percent.”
As Humbert gears up for the final, he remains focused on extending his impressive final record and capturing yet another title, proving his prowess on the ATP tour.
