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French tennis player Jeremy Chardy was happy for Ugo Humbert after his fellow compatriot stunned world No. 4 Stefanos Tsitsipas at the Tokyo Olympics. Humbert, ranked at No. 28 in the world, recovered from a set down to beat Tsitsipas 2-6 7-6 (4) 6-2.
Humbert has had success in the past against Tsitsipas as he also beat the Greek at the Paris Masters last year. Chardy, a former world No. 25, believes Humbert deserved such a big win and to be through to the Tokyo Olympics quarterfinal.
"We have been together in the same room for two weeks. I feel like his big brother. He's a great guy. He deserves it, he tries a lot. I tell him every time he can be one of the best," Chardy said of Humbert, per Quentin Moynet of L'Equipe.
Humbert was thrilled after stunning Tsitsipas
"Playing great matches against great players is my absolute joy, I love it. I live for that. To compete with them, it allows me to see where I am (...) When I get on the court, I can play anyone, I believe in it 100 percent," Humbert said.
After losing the opening game of the first set, Tsitsipas claimed back-to-back breaks to take a 5-1 lead. Humbert ended Tsitsipas' run in the seventh game but the Greek served out for the opener in the following game. As not a single break point was seen in the second set, the set went into a tie-break.
The two players were tied at three points apiee after the opening six points but then Humbert won three consecutive points to take a 6-3 lead. Tsitsipas saved the first set point but Humbert realized his second set point to force a decider.
Humbert lost the opening game of the third set but then earned back-to-back breaks to take a 5-1 lead. Humbert saved four break points in the eighth game, before realizing his fourth match point to complete a comeback win over Tsitsipas.