Humbert Powers Past Machac to Reach Japan Open Final

Ugo Humbert remains undefeated in all six of his previous finals on the ATP tour as he prepares to pursue a seventh title in Tokyo. The 26-year-old Frenchman will face either fellow countryman Arthur Fils or Denmark’s Holger Rune in the Japan Open final. Humbert’s impressive performance this year includes victories in Dubai and Marseille, and he expressed his determination to find a way to lift yet another trophy.

“When you’re in the final, it’s sad to lose the last match,” Humbert, currently ranked 19th in the world, remarked. He emphasized his passion for competing in finals, viewing them as prime opportunities to win titles. “I always say, you don’t have to play a final; you have to win it,” he added, reflecting on his mindset heading into the championship match.

Arthur Fils was set to take on the tournament’s sixth seed, Holger Rune, later on Monday. Should Fils emerge victorious, it would lead to the first all-French final on the ATP tour in four years. Humbert and Fils have previously teamed up for doubles at the Paris Olympics, where they faced an opening-round defeat. Humbert acknowledged the significance of an all-French final, saying, “If Arthur wins, it’s going to be a great final for French tennis,” while also noting the challenge of competing against a friend.

In his semifinal match against Czech player Tomáš Macháč, Humbert initially took control, but Macháč fought back to claim the second set. Despite this setback, Humbert regained his focus and made a decisive break to take a 4-2 lead in the final set. “First, I talked to myself because my energy was so low,” Humbert explained. He aimed to activate his performance and approached each point with maximum effort, which ultimately proved effective in securing his place in the final.