Forfeited before the quarter-finals last week in Washington, due to a calf injury, Ugo Hubert did not “absolutely nothing done” until Monday, knocking on wood to be ready for Toronto. He took it well since the Frenchman, even without any benchmarks, dominated in the first round (4-6, 6-3, 6-4) the Chilean Nicolas Jarry, who is ahead of him by seven places in the ATP rankings (27th against 34th ).
His smile after match point said a lot about his relief. “My first victory was already going on the court, confided the Frenchman. In Washington, I couldn’t walk. I have a strain, the doctor told me to take a week off, so it was a bit tight. There, I have a super hard calf but that’s ok! »
“I won a good battle with my head”
The frustration was all the greater because Humbert had felt particularly comfortable since his arrival on the American continent. Successively semi-finalist in Newport and Atlanta, he saw himself going further in Washington. “I was playing really well so I was a little disappointed not to play my quarter-final. But today, I’m really happy because I won a good battle, with my head. Finally, I was moving well. »
The Messin will challenge today in the second round the American Taylor Fritz (9th ATP), who had dominated him in 2020 in Acapulco during their only confrontation (6-4, 6-1). “I love playing this kind of match, on a big court against a big player. I’m super happy to face him. »
