Carlos Alcaraz failed to reach the Paris Masters quarter-final for the second straight year. World no. 2 fell to the home star Ugo Humbert in the last 16, suffering a 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 loss and finishing this year’s Masters 1000 campaign with one title. Alcaraz did not like the super-fast surface in Paris, admitting it completely surprised him. He praised his rival but pointed a finger at the organizers, questioning their decision to install the fastest surface on the Tour and the quickest in Paris in the previous ten years! Humbert made a flying start before Alcaraz responded in the second set. They stayed neck and neck in the decider before Ugo delivered a break in the 12th game to advance into the quarter-final.
What is lacking in Alcaraz’s game against Humbert?
The Frenchman grabbed seven points more than the Spaniard thanks to the opening set. Ugo played well behind the second serve and avoided break points in sets one and three. Alcaraz converted one of four break points in the second set but dropped serve three times in the other two to hit the exit door. Humbert finished with a 25-31 ratio after missing from his forehand wing. Carlos struggled behind his backhand, landing 23 winners and 25 errors and hitting ten service winners fewer than his opponent. The Spaniard played a bit better from the baseline and at the net, although it was not enough to carry him over the top. Humbert forged a massive lead in the shortest range up to four strokes, keeping him safe after trailing in the more advanced ones.
Ugo makes a flying start
Carried by the partisan crowd, Humbert dominated the opening set, serving well and delivering two breaks for 6-1 in 26 minutes. The Frenchman held with a service winner in the first game and landed a deep return in the next one for an early break and a 2-0 advantage. A left-hander made another push on the return in the fourth game, earning three break points with a forehand winner and converting the last after a loose backhand from world no. 2. Serving to avoid a bagel, Carlos hit a service winner in the sixth game and claimed the opening two points on the return in the next one. However, Ugo climbed back and fired four service winners, wrapping up the opener in style.
Carlos climbs back and wins the second set
Carlos raised his level in the second set, providing five comfortable holds and pushing on the rival’s serve in the middle of the set. The Spaniard landed a forehand winner for a hold in the first game and reached a deuce on the return in the next one. The Frenchman brought it home, keeping his initial shot intact. Alcaraz clinched the third game with an ace and found the rhythm on the return for the first time in the next one. Ugo played against three break points and denied them, landing a service winner after the sixth deuce to bring the game home and lock the result at 2-2.
World no. 2 held at 30 in the fifth game and made another push on the return in the next one. Carlos earned a break chance with a forced error and converted it when his rival played a loose forehand, opening a 4-2 gap and improving his chances. The Spaniard closed the seventh game with a service winner to cement the break and extend the gap. Humbert held at love at 2-5 before Alcaraz landed a lob winner in game nine for three set points. He needed only one after landing a backhand crosscourt winner, leveling the overall score after an hour and 13 minutes.
Humbert prevails in the decider
Two rivals served well in the final set, providing fine holds and remaining neck and neck at 5-5. Humbert survived deuces in games one and five and prepared the ultimate attack in the closing stages. Alcaraz served well at 4-5 and had to repeat that in game 12 to introduce a tie break. However, the Frenchman produced deep returns and generated two match points after a forehand error from the Spaniard. Ugo welcomed Carlos’ backhand mistake on the second, sealing the deal and earning his career-best win.
“It was difficult to play in these conditions. I tried to get used to the court speed; I thought it would suit my game, but it did not. Ugo played flat and aggressive strokes, keeping me out of the rhythm and preventing me from bringing my best tennis. I’m having no issues with indoor conditions but this particular Paris surface. I’m not trying to find excuses, and I have to give Ugo full credit; he deserved to win. When I played my first match, the graphic revealed it was the fastest Masters 1000 event and the quickest surface at this tournament in the previous decade. I’m not sure why the organizers did that, but it feels much different from this event in previous years and any other event on the calendar. The surface speed surprised me, and I should have arrived here earlier and gotten used to the conditions,” Carlos Alcaraz said.