Humbert discusses the clay season: "I draw a lot of inspiration from Nadal"

Facing Popyrin in the first round of Monte-Carlo, Ugo Humbert is approaching the clay season with great enthusiasm. While this surface isn’t his favorite, the 26-year-old player has put in a lot of work ahead of the year’s third Masters 1000 event.

In an interview with *L'Équipe*, the Metz native spoke about the influence of the legendary Nadal on his game:

"I worked a lot with Jérémy Chardy; we watched a lot of videos of Rafa. I focused on his movement and his court positioning. Then, on the court, I tried to identify the situations that gave me trouble.

I’m a very intuitive player, and I’ve always loved going for the winning shot, but it’s true that sometimes it doesn’t make sense."

The world No. 20 also analyzed certain aspects of his game, as well as the challenges of maintaining performance week after week:

"I don’t even change my style. I’m still an attacker—as soon as there’s a short ball, I go for it. I just need to be more patient in constructing the point.

Instead of finishing in two or three shots, I have to take more time to get a favorable ball. At first, it was hard for me because it requires a lot of thinking, so you get tired more easily.

Now it comes more naturally; I feel good from the first few minutes. I don’t want to dwell too much on the past—I’m convinced my game can adapt well to this surface.

There are no rules in this sport. You can have a dream week, lift the trophy, and then lose in the first round a few days later, or the opposite.

People thought Draper could do better after winning Indian Wells, but he lost to Mensik in his first round in Miami.

Everyone saw it as a bad performance, but the Czech went on to win the tournament, showing that you shouldn’t limit yourself. The level is very close among players."