Humbert Outlasts Medvedev in Rotterdam Opener
Ugo Humbert’s lefty serve carved through the tension on Monday, turning a gritty three-setter into his first victory at the ABN AMRO Open by edging former champion Daniil Medvedev.
In the hum of Rotterdam‘s indoor arena on February 9, 2026, Ugo Humbert stepped up against a wall of expectation. The 27-year-old Frenchman, once as high as No. 13 in the PIF ATP Rankings, faced former champion Daniil Medvedev in the opening round of the ABN AMRO Open. What started as a baseline duel quickly turned into a test of nerve, with Humbert’s slippery left-handed serve kicking up unpredictable bounces on the hard courts.
Medvedev, seeking to extend his flawless opening-round streak since last year’s US Open, pressed early with deep returns and flat crosscourt shots. Humbert absorbed the pace, redirecting with heavy topspin backhands that forced the Russian into defensive lobs. The first set stretched to a tiebreak, where Humbert edged it 7-6(4), his inside-out forehand sealing the mini-decider.
“This one is really great,” Humbert said of his two-hour, 22-minute win. “My first win here, against Daniil… It’s a big victory and I’m super happy. I lost the second set, but I knew I was playing well. It was a great match from the beginning to the end. The last set was really solid.
“I know that, against Daniil you have to play a lot of rallies. I was ready to fight for each point and I did it.”
Medvedev regroups but cracks under pressure
Medvedev found his rhythm in the second set, breaking Humbert midway to take it 6-3 with precise down-the-line passes that exploited brief lapses in footwork. The Russian’s counterpunching sharpened, turning Humbert’s aggressive serves into prolonged rallies where his flat groundstrokes skimmed the lines. Yet the shift felt temporary, as Humbert’s endurance began to wear on his opponent’s usual precision.
The head-to-head now tilts 4-1 in Humbert’s favor, a mark of his growing comfort in these matchups. He saved all six break points in the final set, per ATP Stats, blending slice underspin to slow the ball with quick redirects off the baseline. The crowd’s energy swelled with each hold, the arena’s close quarters amplifying every grunt and skid.
Delivering the knockout blow @HumbertUgo resets to defeat former champion Medvedev and reach the second round in Rotterdam.@abnamroopen | #abnamroopen pic.twitter.com/ZS8IhZH4Ao
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 9, 2026
Decider demands unbreakable resolve
As the third set unfolded, Humbert leaned into a 1–2 pattern, following his serve with deep crosscourt backhands that pinned Medvedev wide. The Russian pushed back with aggressive returns, but Humbert’s rock-solid defense turned potential breaks into stalemates, his lefty angles creating chaos on the ad side. A final down-the-line winner at 6-3 ended it, Humbert’s fist pump echoing through the stands.
This upset hands Medvedev his earliest exit here since his title run, a jolt amid a season of point defenses on the ATP 500 circuit. For Humbert, chasing his eighth ATP Tour title and fifth on indoor hard, the win builds quiet momentum. He advances to face Dutch wild card Guy Den Ouden or Marton Fucsovics, matches that could extend his surge on a surface that suits his evasion.
Day one ripples across the draw
Elsewhere in Rotterdam, Cameron Norrie delivered a sharp 7-6(3), 6-1 win over Roberto Bautista Agut, his steady baseline game overwhelming the Spaniard after a tight opener. Norrie now prepares for Valentin Royer or Christopher O’Connell, encounters that promise more tactical chess on the fast courts. These early results infuse the ABN AMRO Open with underdog fire, where Humbert’s poise signals bolder paths ahead for those who grind through the pressure.
The tournament’s pulse quickens, with @HumbertUgo‘s breakthrough shared via @abnamroopen and #abnamroopen underscoring the event’s raw intensity. Humbert’s readiness for rallies against top foes positions him to climb, transforming this maiden victory into fuel for deeper contention.
