ROLEX MONTE-CARLO MASTERS

April 8, 2025

Ugo Humbert

Press Conference

A. POPYRIN/U. Humbert

3-6, 7-6, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Questions in French.

Q. You're not going to be surprised by the first question. We saw you with a huge bandage on your right hand. Do you have a problem there? Can you talk about it?

UGO HUMBERT: I broke my fifth metacarpal bone. I fell, and I hit my hand against a bedside table. I was in my bedroom. I heard "crack," and I cracked the bone.

It was just before the match against Gael. At the hotel, I was in a hurry and I slipped.

Q. You didn't say anything on Sunday on the Media Day. You were not wearing a bandage then.

UGO HUMBERT: Well, no, because the splint was being manufactured. It was not ready yet. I didn't say anything. I went to hit at 6:00 p.m. in the evening, and I used different kinds of bandages to see what was best and to see how I could play.

And after, I used the splint since yesterday. It changed, because with just the bandage it was hurting a lot because of the vibrations, but with the splint, it helped me. Of course I can't cover my backhand, but I can hit it.

Q. Yeah, you were doing your best, of course. You sliced a lot, especially for the first set. But it was obvious you had a problem with your backhand. We could hear you screaming.

UGO HUMBERT: Yes, it was hurting a lot. I was proud of going out there, and now, after the match, I just had an ultrasound and it shows it didn't get worse after that match. It's a good thing. And the doctor said if you can use the splint, you can play if it doesn't hurt too much.

But it did hurt, so I had an x-ray on Sunday morning and an ultrasound after this match.

Q. So medically, what do you have to do now?

UGO HUMBERT: I have to keep the splint for three to four weeks. I will have some pain for a while. The only thing I can do is rest.

Q. So how is your clay court season going to be?

UGO HUMBERT: I think it would have been worse for me to not go out on the court today. I'm very proud that I was able to go there and see how far I can go. I really fought hard.

I didn't say anything during the whole match, but fortunately it's clay, because otherwise I wouldn't be able to play at all. With clay, I have a bit more time to turn around my backhand. I have to return from far behind because of that. It changes my game.

I suppose this match will help me for further matches, and as long as the doctor gives me permission, I will keep playing. We'll see day after day.

Q. Of course there was the injury, but otherwise, you played a very solid match. But there was that point in the second set with the serve.

UGO HUMBERT: Yes, it's totally unfair. It was 2-1, 2-2, but it was 15-40. I was coming back into the match, and really, the serve was that much out (indicating) and the machine said it was in. But you could see it. Obviously it was out.

If he had played a second serve it might have been different. It might have been a turning point in this match. Later, in the tiebreaker, I tried the best I can, but there were situations where I couldn't do anything. And in the third, I really fought till the end.

At 30-All, on my serve, he defended well. It was a good fight. I'm proud of my state of mind and of what I gave on this court today, given how I felt.

Q. You had good emotions last year with a late match in the evening, a long match. The crowd was there for you today.

UGO HUMBERT: Yes, I just love this tournament, and I like the clay. It's a good clay for me, because it's quite fast, and it helps me with my serve. And you can feel a lot of emotions on the court here because of the crowd, and I had good moments on the court. I'm so disappointed that there will not be another match.

Q. I'm sorry to mention this again, but you're saying you need rest, but at the same time, you say that you want to keep playing. Turning around your backhand, it might be even dangerous, it can make the injury worse.

UGO HUMBERT: Well, that's what they said. They said either you stop for three weeks and you come back after that and maybe you'll feel better, or you play but the healing time might be longer.

So I can't stay sitting around drinking Actimel and doing nothing (smiling). It makes me crazy not being able to go and play. I want to try, even if I lose. I'm very proud that I'm able to go on that court.

I chose to go to Munich. This is something I never do. Maybe it's better for me, because the clay is very slow there.