Frenchman Ugo Humbert qualified for the semi-finals of the Dubai tournament on Thursday by beating Polish Hubert Hurkacz in three sets (3-6, 7-6 (10/8), 6-3) after saving three balls match. He will face Russian Daniil Medvedev, 4th player in the world and finalist at the Australian Open in January, on Friday for a place in the final.
At 25, the French number 1 crossed paths with Hurkacz for the third time this season (defeat at the Australian Open, victory in the semi-final in Marseille). On Thursday, the Pole (8th in the world) got off to the best start, winning the first set by breaking in the 4th game before winning 6-3 in 37 minutes. But Humbert (18th in the world) started the 2nd set under better auspices, benefiting from a break point in the 2nd game which he was however unable to achieve. It was only a postponement and the Frenchman succeeded shortly after to lead 3-1. Hurkacz, however, immediately broke to return to 3-2 and then won his serve.
The two players went to the tie-break to decide between themselves and Humbert started it badly with a double fault. Hurkacz then allowed himself a spectacular acrobatics by jumping over the bench placed near the court while trying to catch a ball from his opponent, without harm to him, except for his concentration because Humbert saved three match points in the process before win the set 7-6 (10/8).
He immediately started the 3rd set at best, breaking at 2-1 before winning the match with authority by taking his opponent’s serve to win 6-3. “It took a lot of energy to get the victory. It will be a big challenge against Daniil (Medvedev) and I will have to rest to be ready for tomorrow (Friday),” underlined the Frenchman. The Russian, defending champion in Dubai, for his part easily disposed of the Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (6-2, 6-3), in 1h17 of play and will therefore be fresher to face Humbert.
Medvedev continues his season on the right track, after reaching the final of the Australian Open at the end of January, beaten by the Italian Jannik Sinner. The other semi-final will pit Alexander Bublik against Andrey Rublev, who both benefited from the retirements of their respective opponents, Jiri Lehecka and Sebastian Korda.
