ATP ASB Classic: Semi-finals – All-French affair in final as Humbert and Paire advance
IT will be an all-French affair in the final of the ASB Classic which takes place this afternoon following wins by Benoit Paire and Ugo Humbert in the semi-finals yesterday. The two players are nine years apart with Paire the senior, and he will be looking to use the extra decade on tour to his advantage when they meet in the final.
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The 21-year-old Frenchman weathered the serving storm of fourth seed American, John Isner to post a 7-6 6-4 victory in an hour and 21 minutes. Isner produced 12 aces to Humber’s four, winning 72 per cent of his first serve points after putting in 77 per cent of them. Despite this, Humbert managed to accrue seven break point opportunities, but it was no surprise to see Isner hold on to the majority, though the one break in the second set was the difference. Humbert might not have the most powerful serve compared to his opponent, but he remarkably did not lose a single point on his first serve and only lost six points in total for the match off his serve in one of the most convincing serving performances out there.
In the other semi-final, it was fifth seed Paire who had to win in three sets after a battle from sixth seed Polish player, Hubert Hurkacz. Paire won the first set 6-4 and went into a tiebreaker in the second, but it was Hurkacz who was much stronger to convincingly win the tiebreak 7-1 and send the match into a decider. Paire picked up the bid again to make the most of his break point opportunities and run away with the contest, 6-4 6-7 6-2 in just under an hour and 50 minutes. IN the match, Paire was unable to get his first serve percentage right, producing 12 aces but 10 double faults in a real mixed bag. His 81 per cent of points won off first serves was important, as well as converting six breaks from eight opportunities. Hurkacz could only manage it three times, and served eight aces with seven double faults in the loss.
Paire and Humbert have only met once – last year in Winston-Salem where Paire took out the match from a set down, winning 3-6 7-6 6-3 to advance through to the quarter finals. The final begins at 2.30pm (12.30pm AEDST).
Semi-finals results:
Ugo Humbert (FRA) defeated [4] John Isner (USA) 7-5 6-4
[5] Benoit Paire (FRA) defaeted [6] Hubert Hurkacz (POL) 6-4 6-7 6-2
Final at 12.30pm AUS time
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