Defending Finalist Humbert Crashes Out Early in Tokyo

Ugo Humbert had hoped to repeat last year’s success at the ATP 500 tournament in Tokyo, where he reached the final. But facing Jenson Brooksby, he saw his dreams fade away.

Humbert was making his return to the ATP 500 Tokyo tournament. A year after competing in the final against his compatriot Arthur Fils, the Frenchman—who had lost the first final of his career on the main tour after winning six titles—was hoping to achieve the same feat in the Japanese capital.

Up against Jenson Brooksby, an always dangerous opponent, the world No. 24 and sixth seed was defeated in his opening match. In the first set, Humbert had a break advantage and even led 4-1. But the American quickly leveled the score before taking the lead and serving for the set.

Humbert managed to break back but couldn’t clinch the tiebreak. Once in control, the world No. 86, who is using a protected ranking this week, secured a single break in the middle of the second set to wrap up the match (7-6, 6-3 in 1 hour and 43 minutes). Brooksby advances to the round of 16, where he will face Luciano Darderi.

Meanwhile, the Frenchman, who suffered his second loss of the season against today’s opponent, will lose the points he earned last year and could drop out of the top 30 in the coming days.