MARSEILLE/WASHINGTON, February 16, 2025 (by Michael Dickens)
There’s something magical about the way Ugo Humbert plays tennis in France – especially indoors. He’s simply unstoppable. On Sunday afternoon, before an arena of adoring fans which filled the compact Palais des Sports de Marseille, the World No. 17 and second seed from Metz, France successfully defended his ATP 250-series Open 13 Provence title.
The 26-year-old Humbert defeated 96th-ranked Hamad Medjedovic of Serbia, 7-6 (4), 6-4, in an hour and 40 minutes to win his second Marseille title – his seventh ATP Tour title overall – and fourth crown indoors. It was Humbert’s first title since winning Dubai in March last year. He’s the first Frenchman to win back-to-back Marseille titles, and Sunday’s triumph bettered Humbert’s lifetime record in the southern French port city to 13-2.
Humbert improved to 18-1 in his last 19 matches played indoors on French soil, which includes titles at Metz in 2023, Marseille last year, advancing to his first ATP Masters 1000 final in Paris last November and winning Marseille for a second time.
No place like home
The moment @HumbertUgo claimed his second Marseille title, and 3rd on home soil!#Open13Provence pic.twitter.com/4FVj7EqqfX
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 16, 2025
“It wasn’t easy because he played really, really good, but I’m super happy to have my title back,” Humbert said during his on-court interview before the trophy ceremony. “I’m so proud of it, [it’s] maybe the best [title] because I was a little bit stressed at the beginning of the tournament. With a title to defend, it was not easy to manage, but I’m super proud of it.
Meanwhile, Medjedovic, 21, who won the 2023 Next Gen ATP Finals, was in pursuit of winning his first ATP Tour-level title. However, he was never really able to put together a sustained attack against Humbert like he did against 2021 Marseille champion and this year’s top seed Daniil Medvedev, in his upset of the Russian during Saturday’s semifinals. However, to his credit, Medjedovic’s run to the Marseille final will see his ranking move up 24 spots to No. 72 in the PIF ATP Rankings on Monday.
Humbert dominated Sunday’s final by hitting 26 winners – nine of them from his forehand side – and added 13 service aces. He won 82 percent of his first-serve points, converted two of seven break points and outpointed Medjedovic 75-63. The Serbian countered with 14 winners – including four aces – but also made 25 unforced errors.
One set away
Humbert comes through a tight opening set 7-6 against Medjedovic in the Marseille final!#Open13Provence pic.twitter.com/fz2jyphc1e
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 16, 2025
Humbert captured the opening set in a tiebreaker after being broken by Medjedovic earlier while serving for the set at 5-4. Later, he remained steady in the second set and his 13th ace held serve for 5-4. Then, with the match and title on the line, Humbert gained a championship point after Medjedovic committed his fifth double fault and followed it with an errant return. Finally, the Frenchman won when Medjedovic weakly netted a fifth-shot return.
CHAMPION!! @HumbertUgo remporte la finale 7-6(4) 6-4 vs Hamad Medjedovic
Il est le 4ème joueur à remporter le tournoi deux années consécutives
Photo @corinnedubreuil #open13provence #atptour #ugohumbert pic.twitter.com/yqbP9tTrlo
— Open 13 Provence (@Open13) February 16, 2025
“I want to congratulate Ugo for an amazing week and to his team as well,” Medjedovic said after receiving his runner-up plate. “You are doing such a good job, you are playing amazing. Good luck for the future. I would like to thank my team for being with me, another final. Unfortunately, we didn’t win but thank you for everything, also to my family back home. Thank you [to the fans] for supporting us. Today, [Ugo] was the favorite, I understand.”
Humbert reciprocated in his remarks to Medjedovic. “Thank you, Hamad,” he said. “I would like to say congratulations for your week. You will [win] your first title soon, I’m sure.”
In the meantime, it was the Frenchman’s day and Humbert celebrated with his team, his family and friends – and the fans, too. He had won another title in Marseille – another title in France.
Metz – 2023 –
Paris – 2024 – @Open13 – 2024/25 – @HumbertUgo loves playing at home!#O13Provence pic.twitter.com/hSckbKCHTz— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 16, 2025
Undefeated Bonzi and Herbert win Marseille doubles title
Since making their team debut by winning the decisive third rubber together during France’s recent Davis Cup victory over Brazil, French pair Benjamin Bonzi and Pierre-Hugues Herbert are undefeated (5-0) on tour level. Sunday afternoon, the unseeded wild cards Bonzi and Herbert defeated No. 2 seeds Sander Gille of Belgium and Jan Zielinski of Poland, 6-3, 6-4, to win the Open 13 Provence doubles title. The final lasted just an hour and six minutes on Court Central.
Pierre-Hugues Herbert, Benjamin Bonzi, Jan Zielinski and Sander Gille (photo: Open 13 Provence/Corinne Dubreuil)
Bonzi and Herbert became the 13th all-French team to triumph in Marseille and first since Jeremy Chardy and Fabrice Martin won the title in 2019. For Gille and Zielinski, who are 8-4 on the 2025 season, it’s the second straight week they’ve reached the final after Rotterdam last week – and second week in a row they’ve finished runner-up.
The French duo combined to hit 10 aces, won 92 percent of their first-serve points – dropping just three points – and faced no break points. They converted two of 11 break points against Gille and Zielinski and outpointed them 59-40.
Herbert is ranked No. 278 on the PIF ATP Doubles Rankings after reaching a career-high No. 2 in 2016 with Nicolas Mahut), while Bonzi is ranked No. 286. His career high in doubles was No. 121 in 2022.
The 33-year-old Herbert improved to 24-10 in tour-level doubles finals, including five Grand Slam titles with Mahut. This was his first title since 2022 at Montpellier. Meanwhile, Bonzi, 28, is 1-1 in ATP Tour doubles finals after finishing runner-up at Lyon in 2019.
By the numbers
Since 1993, there have been seven players who have played in back-to-back finals at Marseille. They include: Marc Rosset (1993-94), Thomas Enqvist 1997-98, Michael Llodra (2009-10), Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (2013-14), Lucas Pouille (2017-18), Stefanos Tsitsipas (2019-20) and Ugo Humbert (2023-24).
“Quotable …”
“It means a lot to me because it’s in France. It’s so nice to be back in Marseille. I love to play here. The fans were so good, they gave me the energy to win all four matches, so thanks to them.”
– 2025 Open 13 Provence champion Ugo Humbert, during his on-court interview after winning back-to-back Marseille titles.
