Humbert sends Rublo home winless at UTS New York
The Commander was playing in his first-ever UTS match, having stepped in as a replacement for Kyrgios on Friday
Antoine Couvercelle / Panoramic
Ugo “The Commander” Humbert defeated Andrey “Rublo” Rublev (3) in a hard-hitting affair on day two of UTS New York, overcoming the two-time UTS champion 17-16, 17-13, 13-18, 16-13 at Forrest Hills Stadium in New York on Friday.
The Commander bossed Rublo in the opening quarter, with both men punishing the tennis balls but Humbert coming out on top in a deciding point.
What followed was three more tight quarters, with strategic card play and powerful hitting dominating proceedings.
“I need to breathe. It’s really, really cardio,” said The Commander of his first UTS experience
“I just try to play every point 100 percent. It’s my first time at UTS, so I’m very, very happy to be here playing in front of you.”
Humbert came in as a late replacement for Nick “King” Kyrgios, who withdrew this morning due to a wrist injury. He stepped in to play Rublo, who lost to Gael “La Monf” Monfils 3-0 in the biggest upset of the day in New York on Thursday.
Stefanos “El Greco” Tsitsipas moves into the semi-finals instead of Kyrgios, where he will play La Monf for a spot in the final later on Friday.
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