Home favourite Humbert survives Nakashima, Giron defeats Shang in Paris

Home favourite Ugo Humbert maintained his impressive record on indoor hard courts in France on Monday at the Rolex Paris Masters, where he moved past American Brandon Nakashima 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.

The Frenchman has won his past nine matches on French indoor courts, having lifted trophies in Metz in 2023 and in Marseille in February. Backed by vocal home support in Paris, Humbert fended off both break points he faced against Nakashima in a tight deciding set to book his spot in the second round after two hours and six minutes.

ALLEZ, UGO!!! ALLEZ, UGO!!! ???@HumbertUgo holds his nerve to defeat Nakashima on home soil and will now face Giron in the second round.#RolexParisMasters | @RolexPMasters pic.twitter.com/CrUSRwP6GZ

The 15th seed Humbert, who is the first Frenchman seeded at the ATP Masters 1000 event since Gael Monfils in 2021, now leads Nakashima 3-0 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

Chasing his third title of the season, the No. 18 player in the PIF ATP Rankings will next play Marcos Giron after the American beat #NextGenATP Chinese lefty Shang Juncheng 7-6(6), 7-6(6).

Giron saved one set point in the first set and three set points in the second set before eventually advancing after two hours and seven minutes.

Earlier, Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor downed Luciano Darderi 6-3, 6-4 to set a second-round meeting with third seed Alexander Zverev. Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry advanced, saving all five break points he faced according to Infosys ATP Stats en route to beating Zhang Zhizhen 6-3, 7-6(6). Etcheverry will face Nitto ATP Finals hopeful Grigor Dimitrov next.

Another Argentine, Francisco Cerundolo, also reached the second round. Cerundolo eliminated French qualifier Quentin Halys 7-6(5), 6-3. There was success for Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, who progressed on home soil when Tomas Machac retired. Machac led 7-6(3), 3-5 when played was halted.

Cerundolo next meets sixth seed Andrey Rublev, while Rinderknech plays Pole Hubert Hurkacz or #NextGenATP American Alex Michelsen. In other action, Australian Jordan Thompson eliminated Spaniard Pedro Martinez 6-4, 6-4.

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