Humbert dominates Bublik to seal glory at Dubai Duty Free tennis Championships

Ugo Humbert produced a ruthless masterclass to defeat Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik in straight sets and seal ATP 500 victory in the Dubai Duty Free tennis Championships.

The French No.5 seed, who rises to a career-high World No.14 after his heroics in Dubai, made it a clean sweep of six titles in six ATP finals with a clinical 6-4, 6-3 dismantling of No.7 seed Bublik, the World No.19, in front of a capacity Centre Court crowd at Dubai Duty Free tennis Stadium.

Humbert, who defeated compatriot Gael Monfils, Britain’s Andy Murray, World No.8 Hubert Hurkacz, and World No.4 Daniil Medvedev to reach the final, unleashed his full repertoire of booming forehands and laser-like double-handed backhands to eclipse Bublik, who progressed past 2022 Dubai champion Andrey Rublev in a dramatic semi-final, which saw the No2 seed disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Ugo Humbert poses with his trophy after winning the final match of the ATP Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship in Dubai.  AFP

After tight opening exchanges where the pair were evenly matched, the final stayed on-serve until the 10th game when Humbert, who had failed to convert break points in Bublik’s two previous service games, finally broke the Kazakh’s resistance to clinch the first set 6-4.

With Bublik delighting the Dubai crowd with a combination of whipped forehands and a deft array of dropshots, Humbert, relaxed and controlled, raced into a 3-1 second set lead after breaking Bublik. From there, the 25-year-old left-hander relied on his own dominant serve - unbroken throughout the final - to close out the match on his second Championship point.

"I played a fantastic level all through the week, but it was not easy,” said Humbert, who claims the winner’s prize of $550,140. "I really don’t know how I stayed calm. I have too much respect for [Bublik], he’s such a nice guy on and off the court, and congratulations to him on a great start to the year.”

A beaten but upbeat Bublik reflected: "This week has had almost everything for me, and I can’t wait to come back here again in 2025. Before the final, I thought if I won I would dedicate it to my son, but sorry, maybe next time,” said the 26-year-old, who pockets the runner-up prize of $296,000.

WAM