MARSEILLE/WASHINGTON, February 14, 2025 (by Michael Dickens)
Defending champion and No. 2 seed Ugo Humbert has been nearly unbeatable playing indoors in his native France. On Friday, in the quarterfinal round of the Open 13 Provence in Marseille, the 26-year-old World No. 17 from Metz won for the 16th time in his last 17 matches played indoors on home soil. Humbert’s 6-4, 6-4 victory over No. 7 seed Lorenzo Sonego of Italy in an hour and 38 minutes on Court Central at the Palais des Sports de Marseille lifted him into Saturday’s semifinals.
During the lefty Humbert’s run of great fortune in France, he’s won titles at Metz in 2023 and Marseille last year and advanced to his first ATP Masters 1000 in Paris last November. Friday afternoon’s triumph over the 35th-ranked Sonego was Humbert’s 150th tour-level win (150-127) and advanced him to his 18th career ATP Tour semifinal (8-9) – his ninth indoors – and fourth in Marseille.
Champion still on the march
2024 winner @HumbertUgo prevails past Sonego 6-4 6-4 for his 150th tour-level victory@Open13 | #O13Provence pic.twitter.com/jklDioJHwL
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 14, 2025
Humbert overcame 29 unforced errors by hitting 21 winners and won 85 percent of his first-serve points. He saved all three break points he faced and broke Sonego twice in six tries. Humbert outpointed his opponent 69-58.
“It’s always a tough battle with Lorenzo,” Humbert said during his on-court interview. He improved his lifetime win-loss record against the 29-year-old Italian to 4-3. “He’s a fantastic player, super aggressive. It was not easy [considering] his strong beginning to the year [reach] the quarters at the Australian Open. It’s always a pleasure to play on this court, and I was happy that I felt 100 percent.”
Le tenant du titre @HumbertUgo passe en demie après une victoire 6-4 6-4 vs Lorenzo Sonego
Photo @corinnedubreuil #open13provence #atptour pic.twitter.com/zQtvoyNpka
— Open 13 Provence (@Open13) February 14, 2025
Next, Humbert will face unseeded Zizou Bergs of Belgium, who advanced by retirement over No. 52 Zhang Zhizhen of China after winning the first set 7-5 in 38 minutes. Bergs is through to his second semifinal of the season following his run to the last four at Auckland last month. The victory moved Bergs up to a career-high ranking of No. 57 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. The Belgian struck 17 winners, including 11 aces, and outpointed Zhang 38-27.
“I’ve [had] a great start to the year,” Bergs said in his on-court interview. “We’re trying to put everything together. Some days, it works well, some days it’s a little bit better. I feel like I’m quite solid here. The level is not super high, but it’s quite solid. So, I hope I can continue this path and bring this every match.”
One step closer for Bergs!
After a tight 7-5 set, Zhang retires, and the journey continues for @ZizouBergs in Marseille! @Open13 | #O13Provence pic.twitter.com/vCd2ZckoQj
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 14, 2025
Medvedev marches past Struff into semifinals
World No. 8 and top seed Daniil Medvedev of Russia needed just 78 minutes to advance to Saturday’s semifinals after defeating No. 46 Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany, 6-3, 6-2. The 2021 Marseille titlist, who accepted a wild card to compete this week in southern France, saved all five break points he faced from the German No. 2 en route to winning back-to-back matches for the first time in the 2025 season.
Medvedev, who turned 29 three days ago, hit 23 winners, won 76 percent of his first-serve points, converted four of 12 break-point chances and outpointed Struff 68-51.
Top seed, top form
2021 champion @DaniilMedwed sweeps aside Struff 6-3 6-2 SF!@Open13 | #O13Provence pic.twitter.com/PehkWrU92Y
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 14, 2025
“I didn’t start the match well, he had a lot of break points,” Medvedev said after improving his lifetime win-loss record in Marseille to 9-2. “I served good a couple of times. He made some mistakes. It’s part of tennis. Then I managed to take control of the match and I feel like I was a little bit of a better player. But again, if the match in the beginning doesn’t turn my side, we don’t know what happens next. So, I’m happy to turn in my side.”
Dominant Daniil
Medvedev takes out Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3 6-2 to reach the last 4 #Open13Provence pic.twitter.com/hPfHzNa0wo
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 14, 2025
The quarterfinal victory lifted Medvedev into the last four on Saturday against No. 96 Hamad Medjedovic of Serbia, who fought past 80th-ranked Daniel Altmaier of Germany, 7-5, 6-7 (7), 6-4, in two hours and 42 minutes, after squandering five match points. The Moscow native Medvedev is looking to win his first tour-level title since garnering the ATP Masters 1000 in Rome two years ago.
FOURmidable
Now 4/4 in ATP quarter-finals, @MedjedovicHamad edges Altmaier 7-5 6-7(7) 6-4@Open13 | #O13Provence pic.twitter.com/U1HaPVdYPI
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 14, 2025
Around the Palais des Sports de Marseille
In the first doubles semifinal, No. 2 seeds Sander Gille of Belgium and Jan Zielinski of Poland, who finished runners-up in Rotterdam last week, defeated No. 3 seeds Andre Goransson of Sweden and Sem Verbeek of the Netherlands, 7-6 (6), 6-3, in one hour and 36 minutes on Court Central.
The Belgian/Polish duo converted two of three break points and outscored their opponents 69-63. They improved to 8-3 on the season and have won six of their last seven matches over the past two tournaments.
Our first doubles finalists are Sander Gille & Jan Zielinkski 7-6(6) 6-3 vs Andre Goransson & Sem Verbeek
Photos @cocodubreuilphoto #open13provence #atptour #doubles pic.twitter.com/XWKjimYL93
— Open 13 Provence (@Open13) February 14, 2025
Gille and Zielinski advance to Sunday’s final against the winner of Saturday’s semifinal between No. 1 seeds Hugo Nys of Monaco and Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France versus unseeded French duo Benjamin Bonzi and Pierre-Hugues Herbert.
Friday’s Open 13 Provence results
Saturday’s Open 13 Provence order of play
By the numbers
Unseeded Zhang Zhizhen of China was playing in his 11 ATP Tour quarterfinal – his second indoors after Marseille last year – and brought a 3-7 quarterfinal record into his match against Zizou Bergs of Belgium.
“Quotable …”
“I lost early in Australia. I thought sometimes when I play good in Australia, which has happened many times, your body is used already and tired. So, you want to take it a bit slower. But I played two matches, even if they were tough, so I thought I might as well play many tournaments and Marseille is one I like.”
– Top seed Daniil Medvedev, during his on-court interview Thursday after advancing to the quarterfinals, on his decision to accept a wild card to play Marseille this week.
