"I can do something big": Ugo Humbert relishing grass return

MATCH POINT: Humbert avenges Auger-Aliassime defeat with Halle victory

Ugo Humbert is growing increasingly confident on grass

The 22-year-old Frenchman, ranked No. 31, defeated Felix Auger-Aliassime in a third-set tiebreaker to reach the final of Halle, having gone down to his Canadian opponent the week before at Stuttgart.

"It was an amazing match from both of us, but it was very tough physically and mentally," he said courtside. "It gives me a lot of confidence and when you win some matches 7-6 two times in the third set."

Humbert has gone three sets in all his encounters this week at the Noventi Open, defeating Sam Querrey, third seed Alexander Zverev, and Sebastian Korda ahead of his victory over Auger-Aliassime. The run has improved his grass-court record to 12-5 in what is just his second season playing the swing on the ATP Tour.

According to Humbert, the surface forces him to go for his shots and has elevated his game.

"I have always loved the grass since I started playing on it in 2019. I really enjoy playing on the surface," he told French press. "My flat backhand really does damage, especially hitting crosscourt. I think I can do something big."

During the week, he also described his win against Zverev as some of the most effective tennis he's shown as a player.

Having won two 250 ATP titles at Antwerp and Auckland, Humbert will now aim for his first 500-level title when he meets fourth seed Andrey Rublev in the final.