Anderson’s fairytale comeback ends with Humbert drubbing in Newport

The fairytale comeback of Kevin Anderson is over, following a straight sets defeat by Ugo Humbert in the Newport quarter-finals

Image Credit: AI / Reuters / Panoramic

Bren Gray

July 21, 2023

Ugo Humbert has defeated Kevin Anderson 6-2, 6-4 at the Infosys Hall of Fame Open in Newport, setting a semi-final match up against compatriot Adrian Mannarino.

It was a story line few saw coming this time last year. Kevin Anderson retired from professional tennis in May 2022, putting an end to a career that saw the 37-year-old reach as high as world No 5 and make two Grand Slam finals.

That is, until Anderson accepted a wildcard for the ATP 250 event in Newport, and stormed his way to the quarter-finals with wins over Gabriel Diallo and Gijs Brouwer.

However, Frenchman Ugo Humbert proven a bridge too far for the veteran, downing Anderson in two relatively straight forward sets that lasted just over an hour and a half on Center Court.

World No 40 Humbert will now play Mannarino for a place in the final, a player he holds a 1-1 head-to-head against.