Humbert stuns Tsitsipas as defending champion falls at first hurdle in Dubai
First-round meeting of past winners lights up Centre Court
DUBAI – Defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas crashed out of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Tuesday night, falling in the first round to 2024 title winner Ugo Humbert under the bright lights of Centre Court.
The 4-6, 5-7 defeat at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium means the 27-year-old Greek will drop outside the world’s top 40 for the first time in almost eight years. Tsitsipas left the court with his head bowed after a contest that offered little margin for error.
As soon as the main draw was made for this week’s ATP 500 tournament, the opening-round clash between two former champions drew attention. Only seven ranking places separated the pair and the lower-ranked Humbert, world No. 37, held a 3-1 advantage in their head-to-head record. It proved decisive once again, as Tsitsipas, who has not progressed beyond the quarter-finals in five events this season, struggled to impose himself at key moments.
“It was a funny first round – the two last winners of the tournament,” said Humbert, who defeated Alexander Bublik in the 2024 final. “It's so good to be back where I won the tournament. I have such good memories, and it was a tough battle tonight.”
First exchanges
Both players began with authority behind serve. Tsitsipas conceded only two points across his first four service games, while Humbert was pushed to deuce just once. The baseline exchanges were crisp and controlled, with Tsitsipas’ trademark topspin backhand beginning to find rhythm as the set edged towards its conclusion.
However, at 5-4, the momentum shifted. Serving to stay in the set, Tsitsipas faltered with a pair of double faults and an unforced error that handed Humbert the breakthrough. The Frenchman seized his opportunity to take the opening set 6-4.
The second set followed a similar pattern. Humbert saved two break points in the opening game and from there neither player relinquished serve for 11 consecutive games. At 6-5, with Tsitsipas serving to prolong the contest, two forehand errors presented Humbert with match points. The Frenchman converted at the first attempt as another mistimed forehand from Tsitsipas sealed his early exit.
“I think today, it was a big battle,” Humbert added. “We both served very well, and I had just a few opportunities and I did it, so I'm super happy. It’s nice to come back to play again on this beautiful court. I have such a nice feeling when I play here and it’s nice to be in second round.”
Rublev advances
Awaiting Humbert in the last 16 is 2022 champion Andrey Rublev, who progressed with a 6-3, 6-4 win over France’s Valentin Royer. The world No. 28 moved sharply around Centre Court, extending rallies and retrieving seemingly unreachable returns to maintain control of the encounter.
Royer saved eight break points in the second set to level at 2-2, but Rublev’s serving proved decisive. Mixing heavy groundstrokes with deft touches at the net, he closed out the match in straight sets to secure his place in Wednesday’s programme.
“It was a great win for me because I knew very well in our first meeting, I lost,” said Rublev. “[Royer’s] a great fighter, and I’m really happy that I was able to take that challenge and go through in straight sets. When you play so late, to have some time to recover before the next match is so important.”
Looking ahead to his meeting with Humbert, Rublev said: “It’s going to be great for me to see my level because Ugo is a great player. He’s hitting the ball really hard; he’s getting better and better, and always fights until the end, playing super aggressive. He’s won here in the past too, so it’s going to be an interesting fight.”
Seeds progress
Elsewhere, eighth seed Jiri Lehecka recovered from a slow start on New Court 1 to defeat Lucky Loser Luca Nardi 4-6, 6-4, 6-2. The Czech world No22 will face Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta, who beat Denis Shapovalov 6-2, 6-4.
Sixth seed Jakub Mensik edged past Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 7-6 (7) and will meet Australia’s Alexei Popyrin, who overcame Kamil Majchrzak 3-6, 6-3, 7-6.
On Court 2, the Netherlands’ world No. 25 Tallon Griekspoor defeated Finnish qualifier Otto Virtanen 6-3, 6-4 to set up a second-round clash with second seed Alexander Bublik.
Arthur Rinderknech battled back from a set down to defeat Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 and will next face British fourth seed Jack Draper. USA’s Jenson Brooksby, world No49, beat Belgium’s Zizou Bergs 6-3, 6-4 to arrange a last-16 meeting with seventh seed Karen Khachanov, who overcame Alexander Shevchenko 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-3.
The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships is owned and organised by Dubai Duty Free and held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The tournament runs until Saturday, with tickets starting from Dh65.