ATP Paris Masters 2024: Carlos Alcaraz crashes out in last 16 as home favourite Ugo Humbert wins 'crazy match'
By Ben Southby
Updated 31/10/2024 at 23:01 GMT
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Carlos Alcaraz crashed out of the Paris Masters after a 6-1 3-6 7-5 defeat to home favourite and No. 15 seed Ugo Humbert on Thursday. The Spanish star narrowly avoided a shock bagel in the opening set as the Frenchman applied early pressure on the world No. 2. Alcaraz fought his way back into the contest, but Humbert rediscovered his early form to scrape over the line in an extraordinary decider.
Highlights as Humbert stuns Alcaraz at Paris Masters
Video credit: SNTV
Ugo Humbert beat Carlos Alcaraz in an electrifying encounter on Thursday to reach the quarter-finals of the ATP Paris Masters for the second time.
The home favourite overcame the four-time Grand Slam champion 6-1 3-6 7-5 in front of an energetic Parisian crowd, as he equalled the biggest win of his career - a victory against then-No. 2 in the world Daniil Medvedev two years ago.
Humbert will face Jordan Thompson for a spot in the semi-finals of the Masters 1000 event as he chases the seventh title of his career.
No. 15 seed Humbert wowed the spectators in Paris in the first set as he came close to sealing a stunning bagel over the world No. 2.
The 26-year-old claimed a double break in an electric start to the contest and quickly moved five games ahead, leaving the Wimbledon champion with a mountain to climb.
Alcaraz finally posted a game on the board to avoid being whitewashed in the opener, but with the ball in hand and four chances to take the set, Humbert only needed one as he drew first blood.
In a contrasting second set, which was much closer, Humbert saved his first three break points in the fourth game to deny the Spaniard the advantage.
However, the home player - with the Court Central crowd behind him - could not resist the pressure and was broken in the sixth game as Alcaraz took control in his bid to level the contest.
Alcaraz took the match to a thrilling decider, which went deep in a set influenced by the raucous atmosphere inside Accor Arena.
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Both players were strong on serve in a tense deciding set, but as the support continued to grow in favour of Humbert, Alcaraz could not deny the French player a dream finish as he gained the decisive break in the 12th game.
“I’m just super proud of myself that I did it,” said Humbert, via the ATP's website.
“It was a crazy match, a crazy atmosphere. Maybe my last in Bercy [before the tournament moves to a new venue from next year], so I tried to do everything tonight. It was a really big match.”
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