Humbert overcomes Sonego in Stockholm: Fourth semifinal of the season for the Frenchman

Ugo Humbert is the first player to qualify for the semifinals of the ATP 250 tournament in Stockholm.

In the quarterfinals of the Stockholm tournament, Ugo Humbert, the last Frenchman remaining in the Swedish capital, was the first player to take the court this Friday against Lorenzo Sonego.

After his victory against Matteo Berrettini in the previous round (7-6, 6-3), the world number 25 faced another Italian player, whom he knows well as this was the ninth encounter between the two men (5-3 for Humbert before the match).

Sonego, ranked 47th in the world, had eliminated Fery and Kovacevic to reach the quarterfinals. In a tightly contested first set, the Italian saved a set point before easily winning the tiebreak (7-3).

But the Frenchman reacted perfectly, not conceding a single game in the second set. It was only in the middle of the third set that Humbert took control to secure the victory after winning the last four games (6-7, 6-0, 6-3 in 2 hours and 42 minutes).

The 27-year-old player, who hadn't conceded a single break point against Berrettini, saved all eleven break points he faced this time. With a solid performance (36 winners including 8 aces, 19 unforced errors), the fourth seed advances to the semifinals, his fourth of the season after Marseille, 's-Hertogenbosch, and Eastbourne.

Humbert, who has defeated Sonego for the third time this season, will aim to reach his second final of the year against the winner of the match between Holger Rune and Tomas Martin Etcheverry.