Karen Khachanov didn’t mince words when addressing Ugo Humbert following their Paris Masters semifinal match as the Russian ripped the Frenchman as someone who “does not know how to behave.”
On Saturday, the 21st-ranked Russian was bidding to make his second final at Bercy – the same place where he won his maiden Masters title after upsetting Novak Djokovic in the 2018 final. But it didn’t happen for the 2018 champion after home favorite Humbert came back from a set down to win 6-7 (6) 6-4 6-3.
Through the opening five games of the third set, Khachanov led 3-2 but without a break. Then, the 28-year-old started dealing with a leg issue and required a medical timeout and treatment. The match finished with the Frenchman winning the next four games and with the Russian tennis star barely being able to move in the last two games.
But while Khachanov was evidently struggling, his 26-year-old opponent changed nothing in his emotional approach to the match and that’s why the former world No. 8 wasn’t happy with the Frenchman at all because he felt it was disrespectful to celebrate while battling an injured opponent.
“I told him at the net to show more respect. He has no idea how to behave. I’m always about fair play. I will congratulate him if he behaves like a normal person. That’s all I can say. You can be with the crowd. I have no problem with that. Did you see me celebrate yesterday? Grigor was exhausted. He wasn’t injured at the end, he told me. ‘Did you see me jumping and screaming, Come on! Allez!’ After every point.. do you think it’s okay? You can celebrate after with the crowd no problem. You can do whatever you want. But while you see injuries are part of the game… to do it while you see the guy is on the ground? Okay, see you next time,” the Russian said on Ziggo Sport.
Karen Khachanov told Ugo Humbert at the net to show more respect:
“I told him at the net to show more respect. He has no idea how to behave. I’m always about fair play. I will congratulate him if he behaves like a normal person. That’s all I can say. You can be with the crowd. I… pic.twitter.com/QnTXdRMbVD
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) November 2, 2024
What Humbert said his confidence was ‘boosted’ after Khachanov started to struggle
While the 28-year-old was receiving a medical timeout, the home favorite was talking with former French tennis player and his coach Jeremy Chardy. And the message was clear – make the Russian run and try to further wear him out.
Also, Humbert admitted to feeling way better about his chances after noticing that Khachanov started to cramp.
“He (Chardy) coached me a lot, especially towards the end. I felt that he was tired, that he started cramping. It boosted my confidence. At the beginning of the third, I was very much tired, and he would push very much on his external slice. He said to close the angle more, to block the serve, and when I felt that he was wearing out, I said, wear him out, make him run back and forth. And afterwards, it was pure happiness,” the 26-year-old said.
Ugo Humbert© Paris Masters/Instagram – Fair Use
Humbert on the help from the French crowd
Throughout the match, the Parisian crowd stood very loudly behind their home player and created a very hostile environment for Khachanov. But the Frenchman receiving massive support at Bercy was also the case in the matches that he played earlier in the week. And following a win for his maiden Masters final and a milestone, the 26-year-old admitted that the crowd and their support propelled him when he needed that extra push.
“For me, it’s genuine happiness when you have 10,000 people behind me. Of course I draw upon them, because it’s a major asset. As I said from the beginning of the week, I play with my heart, I want to share this moment with them. I want to give something to them. They are here also to help me, to push me further, because today it was tough. There were times when I was really at the borderline, physically speaking, and when I saw him cramp and the public that pushed me, I felt good all of a sudden. This is what helped me to edge through and manage to have a win,” Humbert said.
Meanwhile, Khachanov fell just short of making his third consecutive final. Before coming to Paris, the Russian tennis star won the ATP 250 tournament in Almaty before finishing as runner-up at the ATP 500 event in Vienna last week.
Paris was another positive week for Khachanov but it was definitely disappointing for the 28-year-old to lose the way he did.