CAGLIARI/STARNBERG, May 7, 2023
Ugo Humbert overcame a slow start against fourth-seeded Serbian Laslo Djere to triumph Sunday at the Sardegna Open ATP Challenger Tour 175 event in Cagliari, Italy. The No. 6 seed from France found consistency the longer the championship match lasted to rally to a 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 victory.
In the pair’s first meeting and in front of packed stands at the Tennis Club Cagliari, Humbert secured his first clay-court title on the Challenger Tour after three hours and eight minutes.
UGO ACES CAGLIARI 💫
The No. 6 seed fights back and defeats Laslo Djere 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 to lift his first trophy since Sept. 2022#ATPChallenger | @HumbertUgo pic.twitter.com/fLa6xowY9M
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) May 7, 2023
“I will never forget this week,” Humbert said during press conference. “I have always hated playing on clay, so to have even managed to win the title is an incredible feeling. I’ve never finished a tournament being tired like that. Facing Djere is hell: he always forces you to play one more ball and after three hours it becomes difficult. I’m proud of how I was able to go and get the cup and I am ready for Roland Garros.”
Humbert, who lifted three tour-level trophies, celebrated his eighth triumph on the ATP Challenger Tour, his first since winning on home soil in Rennes last year. He earned €27,155 in prize money as well as 175 ATP Ranking points.
Erler/Mieder take doubles title
In other action, Andreas Erler and Lucas Miedler from Austria claimed the doubles title. The No. 3 seeds defeated the tournament’s top-seeded Argentines Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni 7-6(6), 6-3 in one hour and 39 minutes.
