By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday September 30, 2023
Ugo Humbert notched his first Top-10 win of 2023 to reach the last eight at the China Open in Beijing.
Photo Source: TTV
France’s Ugo Humbert earned his first Top-10 win of 2023 on Saturday night in Beijing, taking down fifth-seeded Andry Rublev to reach the quarterfinals, 5-7 6-3 7-6(3), and setting a clash with second-seeded Daniil Medvedev.
Humbert improved to 8-8 lifetime against the Top-10 in his career with a spirited comeback against the World No.6. Humbert is now 13-6 since mid-July, with four quarterfinals reached.
He hit 11 aces and saved 10 of 15 break points, as he rallied from 5-3 down in the final set to win. Rublev served for the match at 5-3 in the third set but didn’t manage a single point in his service game.
In the tiebreak Humbert raced out to a 5-1 lead before closing out the victory in two hours and 48 minutes.
Medvedev and Humbert have met twice and it is the Frenchman who has come out on top on both occasions. The Frenchman won 6-4, 6-3 in Hamburg in 2020, and 6-7(5), 7-5, 7-6(2) at ATP Cup in 2022.
Medvedev improved to 57-12 on the season with a 7-6(3), 6-3 win over Alex de Minaur on Saturday.
The Russian improves to 6-2 lifetime against the man they call “The Demon”, and 2-1 in 2023.
“It’s crazy how every time he is down in a match, you know he is going to start playing like he is No. 1 in the world. Tough to play against him, a tough victory, but I am happy with my level,” he said.
Nicolas Jarry backed up his upset over Stefanos Tsitsipas with a 6-7(4) 7-6(4) 6-3 victory over Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi to reach the quarterfinals as well.