ROLAND GARROS

May 23, 2026

Ugo Humbert

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Questions in French.

Q. Good morning, Ugo. Can you tell us how you feel in general before we start the tournament?

UGO HUMBERT: Well, I feel well. I played good matches in Hamburg, a good preparation, long matches that really helped me prepare for the French Open, so I feel good.

Q. How do you feel about clay? Last year you said it's fabulous, it might become my best surface. What about that? Do you feel that you get better on clay as years go, or are you still afraid of clay?

UGO HUMBERT: No, I like clay. Over the first years of my tour, I said I didn't like it, and I didn't like playing on clay, but now I don't say it anymore. I haven't said it once lately. I like the surface. Nothing special to say about clay.

Q. In the beginning it's going to be very warm temperature-wise. How do you feel about that? How do you as players prepare for such weather?

UGO HUMBERT: Well, it's all very well, because we have good weather in Paris. It's going to be nice and sunny. It's a good thing for the French Open.

Obviously we have to hydrate well, to have proper nutrition for the days before the matches. It's very important in order not to be too tired for long matches, but I like that weather.

Q. One word about Gael. I don't know if you saw the evening two days again. What will be your takeaway memory about Gael and his career?

UGO HUMBERT: I have so many memories with Gael. Obviously I watched him play on TV when I was a kid, and I saw all his great matches. It was great.

All the time we had together on the tour was also fabulous. He's a great person. We have had very nice discussions that are positive, and this is what I take away from Gael.

Honestly he's here for the others, and it's not always easy on the tour.

Q. Did you ever hear anyone say anything bad about Gael Monfils?

UGO HUMBERT: No. Honestly, no.

Q. Do you know your first opponent for the first tour? Do you think it's a difficult first tour because he has a very special style?

UGO HUMBERT: Yes. I also played him on the first tour in Roland two, three years ago. I've played against Manna many times, so it will be special. It's not necessarily a trap, but it will be a difficult match. I'll do my best.

Over the past two weeks I've tried to train properly, to play good matches, but it's never easy to play against a Frenchman, especially Manna. It's better if I don't cross his path.

Q. We know he doesn't like clay, so do you think it will help you for the match?

UGO HUMBERT: It's not a way to approach a match. Even though he doesn't like clay, he's a great player. He beat me this year, and the clay at Roland is very special. It's a faster surface.

It's not such an easy match, so it's very important to have the right mind frame, to be confident, obviously, but to use your strong points and impose your game. I'm not taking it lightly.

Q. Mannarino says it's not good to know who you're fighting against.

UGO HUMBERT: Yesterday my coach said don't tell him you're fighting him the next tour, so I played the game, and I tried to look the other way when I saw him.

Q. When you played on clay in the past, you always had a physical issue. What about this year? Will you play better because you have no problem physically?

UGO HUMBERT: Yes, physically I'm feeling good. Obviously it's much nicer for me, because last year I couldn't even play a backhand, so it was getting very complicated. When I got here last year, I could hardly play a backhand. So now playing on clay will be very different.

Q. I remember when you played last year and when you were playing your backhand and you were saying, Ouch. Do you think it would have been better not to play last year?

UGO HUMBERT: No, I don't think you should go back in time. I made that choice. At the time I thought it was the right choice, but it's true that sometimes in the morning my finger aches, and I wake up in the morning. It still hurts, but after that during the day, I don't think about it anymore.