Ugo Humbert returned to the Rolex Paris Masters with a three-set win over Botic van de Zandschulp on November 2, advancing through the opening round after two tie-breaks. The Frenchman won 7-6(5), 6-7(9), 6-3 in two hours and 38 minutes, according to the tournament’s official report.
Humbert, the 2024 finalist, had missed last year’s tournament. His return came in the first evening session at the Plenitude Arena, with Richard Gasquet and Gilles Simon among those watching.
Both players lost serve three times in an unsettled first set before Humbert edged the tie-break. Van de Zandschulp then forced a decider after Humbert missed two match points in the second-set tie-break.
Humbert broke early in the final set and finished the match with an ace. The tournament report said he won every point behind his first serve in that set and faced no break points. Tennis.com’s match record also confirms the three-set result and Humbert’s place in the second round.
Archive photograph: Ugo Humbert at the Monte Carlo Masters in April 2022, not at the 2026 Paris event. Photo: si.robi, CC BY-SA 2.0.
