French tennis fans have a new homegrown hero to celebrate. World No. 17 Ugo Humbert successfully defended his ATP 250 Marseille title, defeating rising Serbian star Hamad Medjedovic 7-6(5), 6-4 in a hard-fought final.
In doing so, Humbert became the first Frenchman since Gael Monfils in 2020 to defend an ATP title, further solidifying his dominance on home soil. The 25-year-old has now won 18 of his last 19 indoor matches in France since November 2023.
A Tight Battle: Medjedovic Pushes Humbert to the Limit
While the scoreline suggests a straight-sets victory, Humbert had to dig deep to overcome his 20-year-old opponent. Medjedovic, playing in just his second career ATP final, showcased his power and resilience, coming within a point of snatching the opening set.
Humbert, despite serving at only 50%, was the more composed player in key moments. He saved a set point at 5-6, won a tense first-set tiebreak, and secured a late break in the second set to seal the victory in one hour and 40 minutes.
Key Stats: Humbert’s Experience Proves Decisive
🔹 Aces: Humbert – 14, Medjedovic – 12
🔹 Winners: Humbert – 26, Medjedovic – 14
🔹 Unforced Errors: Humbert – 23, Medjedovic – 25
🔹 Break Points Saved: Humbert – 1/2, Medjedovic – 5/7
Although Medjedovic dominated baseline rallies, Humbert’s superior first-serve effectiveness (37 aces/service winners) and ability to win clutch points made the difference.
How the Match Was Won
Set 1: Humbert Survives Early Scare
- Humbert broke early in the third game but was immediately broken back at 5-4 when Medjedovic pounced on a rare opening.
- At 6-5, Medjedovic had a set point on return, but Humbert saved it with a clutch serve.
- The Frenchman then dominated the tiebreak, racing to a 6-1 lead before closing it out 7-5.
Set 2: Humbert Finishes Strong
- Both players held firm until Humbert generated three break points in the 10th game.
- With match point on Medjedovic’s serve, the young Serb missed a forehand, allowing Humbert to break at love and seal his title defense.
What’s Next for Humbert?
This victory marks Humbert’s fifth ATP title, and with his ranking at No. 17, he is inching closer to a Top 10 breakthrough.
His indoor dominance suggests he could be a dark horse at Indian Wells and Miami, where his aggressive baseline play and big serve will be a threat.
A Bright Future for Medjedovic
Despite the loss, Medjedovic proved he belongs among the ATP’s rising stars. A protégé of Novak Djokovic, the Serbian showed explosive power and impressive court coverage, particularly in rally exchanges.
With more consistency, the 20-year-old could soon become a regular contender on the ATP Tour.
For now, Marseille belongs to Ugo Humbert—a French champion thriving on home soil, with even bigger ambitions ahead. 🚀