Video - Ugo Humbert, affected and disappointed: "Stunned by the nastiness and all the messages I've received".
Ugo Humbert gave a press conference in Metz after having to withdraw from the 2024 Moselle Open. He was naturally asked about the controversy surrounding his match against Karen Khachanov in the semi-finals of the Rolex Paris Masters.
The Frenchman had been heavily criticized, often excessively so, for not realizing that his opponent was injured and for continuing to cheer himself on by celebrating his points with the French fans. He again explained that he had thought the Russian was simply suffering from cramp, not injury.
Humbert also spoke about the aftermath of the controversy. He expressed his incomprehension at the way the media had treated the issue, and the mean-spirited reactions it had provoked (see video below).
A lot of reactions without nuance, without hindsight. Reactions ready to judge through trials of intent and to condemn very violently. All without having taken the time to ensure a minimum of objectivity.
A type of reaction that the tennis world in particular, and the world in general, has been witnessing more and more in recent seasons. The collective usage habits we are increasingly adopting on social networks are obviously no stranger to this.
It remains to be seen, each of us in his or her own mind, whether this is the way we want our relationship with life to evolve.
Ugo Humbert: "In fact, I didn't understand at all what had happened. Already, when I experienced the match, I felt that... I hadn't seen that Karen was injured. Nothing obvious had happened.
For me, it was cramps. After all, we'd been playing for two and a half hours. I was worn out too. My legs were aching, I was aching all over. I told myself it just wasn't fresh.
This season, I've also had matches where it's been the other way around, where I've fallen asleep a bit. I was completely in my own bubble, in my own world. I didn't pay any attention to that. I sent Karen a message to apologize.
I really can't disrespect him. I didn't do anything against him. Afterwards, I was amazed at the nastiness and all the messages I received about what happened.
Clearly, I didn't do anything of the sort. I respect all the players. I'm always the first to say it. It's part of my values to be respectful on the court. I had 15,000 people with me. I was completely transcended.
I didn't realize he was hurt. I apologized and... it was very simple. I sent him the message two hours ago (Tuesday). It was important for me to do it.
Because when I finished the match, the press didn't even ask me what he'd seen. And I wasn't even allowed to know what he'd said. So really, they just put it together to create a buzz. I was disappointed with that.
It affected me enormously. It was important for me to let him know how I'd experienced the match and what had happened, because I hadn't understood."
