ROLAND-GARROS
19 May - 8 June 2025
Ugo Humbert continued to make impressive strides last year, winning two more ATP Tour titles (Dubai and Marseille) and reaching two other finals, including the Rolex Paris Masters, where he ended an unforgettable week by finishing runner-up to Alexander Zverev. The Metz native was all smiles when we caught up with him at Melbourne Park, where he was happy to chat about last year’s highs, the 2025 pre-season, his Australian Open preparations and his objectives for the coming months.
Ugo Humbert: "I'm very lucky, love what I do and am enjoying myself"
After an exceptional 2024, the French No. 1 opened up about his ambitions for the new season just days before his first-round clash with Matteo Gigante at the Australian Open.
©Corinne Dubreuil / FFTUgo, first of all, Happy New Year! What can we wish for you in 2025?
Health is what matters most. After that, if I can continue to experience nice surprises, that would be good too (smiles).
You had your best season to date in 2024 with two ATP 500 titles, a Masters 1000 final and a round-of-16 appearance at Wimbledon. If you had to pick one standout moment from last year, what would it be?
I’d have to say the Rolex Paris Masters in October. It was the highlight of my year, especially because it was in France, so there was even more emotion involved than with other tournaments. It was very intense and included a big win over Carlos Alcaraz [Editor’s note: 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 in the last 16] – an event that will stay with me forever, even if there was no title in the end. Furthermore, my whole family and team were there to witness it. Things like that mean a lot to me.
After all your hard work pre-season, how did you find your first games in Australia during the United Cup?
It's never easy to adapt, firstly because of the jet lag, but also because we have to play in this heat. You train really well for a month and think you’re physically in good shape, but then you arrive in Australia and after just a 90-minute training session, you’re suffering because of the heat (laughs). It just takes a little time. I still felt good and had some very good moments, so I’ve just continued working hard to be ready for the first Grand Slam of the year.
You’ve brought Fabrice Martin into your team this year. What aspects of your game are you hoping he can help you with?
He’ll be a particular help with my state of mind and make sure I maintain the same mindset I had towards the end of last season. He's a super-positive person with great energy and very good values, so it's incredible for me to be able to share in that. I consider myself very lucky to have him by my side. In terms of the actual tennis, we’re working a lot on my attacking game with a focus on me getting to the net. It's not going to be the basis of my game, but it's something I can improve. In fact, I feel I’ve already made progress during the off-season.
Given your superb 2024 and current world ranking (14th), you’ll start many tournaments among the contenders. Is that a difficult role to assume or do you like being in that category?
It's all new to me. At the beginning of last year, I had a bit of a hard time with it. It felt a bit weird, and I put a lot of pressure on myself. However, it's something you have to learn to manage, and things are much better today. I’d go so far as to say that I now love being among the favourites. I know I'm very lucky. I love what I do and am enjoying myself!
Though we’re now at the start of the hard-court season, can we look ahead to the clay tournaments? You’ve said it's not your favourite surface, but could the milestone you've reached in 2024 allow you to have another breakthrough on clay in 2025?
I think there has been progress, but I don't necessarily see it in terms of having a breakthrough or not. Two years ago, I proved to myself that I could play well on this surface. I beat some good clay-court specialists, I won two big Challenger Tour events and then I reached the quarter-finals in Monte-Carlo last year. I think it's a surface I can play well on, but I also know that it won't be my best one. Now I expect to get good results [on it] and also think I'm taken seriously on clay, which wasn't the case early in my career! (laughs).
©Corinne Dubreuil / FFTThough you’re only 26, you’re already leading a young generation of players who are following in your footsteps. Is this reinvigoration of French tennis on the ATP Tour inspiring you all to do better?
Yes, for sure! When I started out on the tour at 21, I felt a bit alone. At one point, when I was ranked between 25 and 30 in the world and number 1 or 2 in France, I felt that there was a lack of [French] players who could drag each other up. Now, with Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard and the two Arthurs [Fils and Cazaux], there’s a whole generation coming through. We’re all playing well and elevate each other, and I think that's extremely positive for French tennis.
And finally, will FC Metz make it back to Ligue 1 this year?
(Laughs) I follow them and am fully behind them! They’re currently fourth, so I hope they can move up further. That would be great. You have to finish in the top-two [for automatic promotion] or else come through the play-offs, which are never easy!