ATP Masters in Shanghai, Round of 16, Wednesday, 10/11/2023
Quarterfinalists wanted! Tickets to the quarterfinals are at stake at the Shanghai Masters, which may be held for the first time since 2019, and not all the names were mandatory.
On Wednesday, a Frenchman attacks, who has already kicked out the first top star. Why his favorite role at Bet-at-Home is rather close, but I still bet on his success? That will now be revealed in my Humbert Wolf tip!
25 years is Ugo Humbert as and all experts agree: His best time should still come! The Frenchman is on the verge of making it into the top 30 in the world, there he would like to establish himself afterwards of course.
After his exit in the 1st round of the US Open, he took a short break before going on the big Asian Tour. In Beijing he reached the quarterfinals, the three results were definitely worth seeing.
After wins against Lorenzo Sonego (7-5, 3-6, 6-0) and Andrey Rublev (5-7, 6-3, 7-6), he faced Danill Medvedev. Here, too, he fought back to the best of his ability and had nothing to be sorry about after his 4-6, 6-3, 1-6.
He flew to Shanghai with a small exclamation mark and three sets to one, wanting to confirm the recent developments in the positive. Even before the round of 16 I can say: it succeeded or succeeds!
After Humbert had defeated Botic van den Zandschulp 6-4, 1-6, 6-2 in the first round, he faced one of the big names, Stefanos Tsitsipas, but those who had bet on a nervous Frenchman were mistaken.
The underdog came back to win 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, won 84% of his first serve points and was the better player in the decisive moments.
Now, of course, the standards have risen enormously, so he also wants to prevail against J.J. Wolf. The US American is ranked number 51 in the world, so he is clearly behind Tsitsipas.
More than four years ago in Indian Wells, the two met directly for the first and so far only time, when Humbert secured a smooth and equally close 7-5, 7-5.
J.J. Wolf will of course not leave the field to him without a fight on Wednesday, after all he is not too far behind in our 2023 betting provider rankings with an average of 2.20 to 1.60.
The 24-year-old has already played one more match in Shanghai, having started the tournament with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 against Pedro Cachin. From now on, he should remain true to the three sets, so he has already left a few grains.
With 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 Wolf won against Cameron Norrie in round 2, which was a big surprise. More to be expected was the 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 win over Matteo Arnaldo.
An unbelievable 34 break chances were granted to Wolf in the last two matches, only eight of them he could convert. It should be clear where the potential for improvement lies.
But in these two matches he did not manage to win 70% of his first serve points, Humbert was a lot ahead of him in this respect against Tsitsipas.
My Humbert Wolf tip
Whoever wins in three sets against a Stefanos Tsitsipas is of course favored in the following match! Ugo Humbert seems to be in really good form in Asia, now the round of the best eight actually beckons him.
J.J. Wolf has fought his way into this round of 16 with very close results. Although nobody should underestimate him, I think the Frenchman has the higher individual class. For this reason my tip is also:
Humbert wins against Wolf!
