By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, February 9, 2026Photo credit score: ABN AMRO Open Fb
Daniil Medvedev pushed Ugo Humbert to the breaking level six occasions within the closing set.
A tenacious Humbert rose to the problem then shoved a cranky Medvedev proper out of Rotterdam.
Humbert roared again from triple break level down in each the third and seventh video games of the decider keeping off Medvedev 7-6(4), 3-6, 6-3 to register his first profession win in Rotterdam.
Carrying an 0-3 profession document on the ABN AMRO Open into this match, Humbert competed with tenacity saving all six break factors he confronted within the closing set to defeat Medvedev for the fourth time in 5 conferences.
It’s the second Prime 20 win of the yr for the left-handed Frenchman, who beat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in final month’s Adelaide semifinals.
It was a irritating match for former world No. 1 Medvedev, who transformed solely certainly one of eight break factors and let festering frustration erupt repeatedly within the closing set.
The 2023 Rotterdam champion Medvedev resorted to the drop shot on a number of events, repeatedly dropped some F-bombs, swiped his Tecnifibre racquet throughout the court docket leaving a jagged mark behind the baseline and at one level threw a flying karate kick off the again wall.
Medvedev, whose two-hander is often a rock-solid shot, made three backhand errors within the final 4 factors of the tiebreaker as Humbert edged the Russian to take a one-set lead.
Resetting, Medvedev reached again for some stinging serves to stave off a few break factors to rally from 15-40 and maintain to start out the second set.
That arduous-fought maintain stabilized the previous world No. 1, who reeled off eight of the following 9 factors in seizing a 3-0 second-set lead.
The left-handed Humbert, one of many uncommon gamers who will change his service stance positioning, started standing even wider when serving to the advert court docket to create a sharper angle on his slider serve to displace Medvedev.
The lanky Russian rolled by way of 12 of 13 service factors stretching his result in 5-2.
Serving for the set, Medvedev drove his two-hander deep within the court docket coaxing an error for a second set level. Medvedev deployed the dropper efficiently to win the second set and drive a decider after 89 minutes of play.
Following an prolonged rest room break on the finish of the second set, Humbert returned to motion and confronted triple break level within the third recreation.
World No. 36 Humbert curled a crosscourt forehand winner, unloaded a biting forehand down the road then crushed an enormous serve to save lots of all three break factors, ultimately holding for 2-1.
Emotional hangover from that failed alternative blew up on Medvedev, who bungled back-to-back double faults to donate the break and a 3-1 result in the Frenchman.
Within the subsequent recreation, Medvedev missed one other backhand then swiped his racquet off the court docket thrice in succession leaving a gash behind the baseline. “F–king horrible!” Medvedev yelled as Humbert held at 30 extending to 4-1.
Nonetheless, Medvedev earned one other triple break level alternative with Humbert serving at 4-2. Once more, Humbert flashed a forehand crosscourt to save lots of the primary break level then drew two Medvedev errors to succeed in deuce. Medvedev vented his anger throwing that karate kick off the again wall.
Undeterred, Humbert hit a service winner and an ace holding for 5-2.
Medvedev saved a match level holding for 3-5 to shift strain again on Humbert’s shoulders.
On his second match level, the left-hander lashed a heavy backhand crosscourt drawing the error to shut in two hours, 22-minutes spoiling the Russian’s impending thirtieth birthday on Wednesday.
