Humbert ready for the challenge against Zverev: "I know I can beat him".
Ugo Humbert has qualified for the last 16 of the Australian Open after benefiting from the withdrawal of his compatriot Arthur Fils in the fourth set of their duel.
The Metz native has reached this stage of the competition for the first time in his career, and will meet world No.2 Alexander Zverev. The two men met in the final of the Paris Masters 1000 at the end of last season, in a one-sided match.
This time around, Humbert, in full possession of his resources, intends to give the German as much trouble as he can: "I feel that physically I'm going to be able to go out there and commit myself 100% for a few hours, because I don't feel affected.
I'm recovering well. There are tournaments where I feel like I'm going 'mad'. Here, I'm calm, I'm not trying to force things, there's no pressure.
I'm capable of beating the very best, I've done it before. When I get on the court, I believe in myself 100%. [...] I have no regrets about the Paris-Bercy final, he was unbeatable.
I'm going to try to do things differently. I've beaten him before and I know I can do it. We're going to have to seize every opportunity because he serves very well. It's a new match, a new challenge."