France’s Ugo Humbert improved to 6-0 in ATP Tour-level title matches in defeating Alexander Bublik 6-4, 6-3 on Saturday at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Fifth seed Humbert was in control against Kazakhstan’s Bublik, the seventh seed who led 9-0 in double faults and 9-5 in unforced errors. Humbert saved both break points and had more aces (9-8) and winners (25-20).
Humbert also won the ATP 500 grass-court event in Halle in 2021 among his six career tour titles. With Saturday’s victory, he will rise to a career-high No. 14 in the ATP rankings on Monday and be the first Frenchman in the Top 15 since Gael Monfils in May 2021.
Bublik will make his Top 20 debut at No. 19 in the new rankings.
Abierto Mexicano Telcel
Third-seeded Alex de Minaur of Australia won the title in Acapulco, Mexico, for the second straight year as he defeated the sixth seed, Norway’s Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-4. It was de Minaur’s eighth singles title.
After losing the first set, Ruud went up 2-0 in the second set by breaking serve, but de Minaur broke back to make it 2-1. Ruud lost his serve again to fall behind 4-3, and de Minaur led the rest of the way.
de Minaur had three aces to one for Ruud, and the Australian saved three of four break points while converting three of four against Ruud.
Movistar Chile Open
Fourth-seeded Alejandro Tabilo of Chile fought off qualifier Corentin Moutet of France 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 to advance to the final in Santiago, Chile.
Tabilo will take on the second seed, Argentina’s Sebastian Baez, on Sunday. Baez took care of Spaniard Pedro Martinez 6-4, 6-2.
After dropping the first set, Tabilo finished strongly on the second and third, pulling away from a 4-4 tie in the second and 5-5 in the third by winning back-to-back games, breaking Moutet’s serve to clinch on each occasion.
Baez dominated in his victory, scoring all five of the match’s aces. He also converted three of six break points while saving both of his own.
–Field Level Media
