The last quarter-final of the day is the French confrontation between Ugo Humbert, the number 4 seed of the tournament, and Arthur Rinderknech, ranked 138th in the world and coming from the qualifications.
Despite the gap in the rankings, it was not going to be easy for the higher ranked of the two players who would have to find the break on the service games of the taller Arthur (1m96). In these cases, the lesser player is often under maximum pressure on his serve, because he knows that if he loses his serve, the mission of breaking is almost impossible. And that is exactly what happened to Humbert, who conceded his serve at 3-3 in the first set. Ten minutes later, the first set was decided in favour of Rinderknech with a score of 6-4.
In the second set, Humbert was clear until 6-5, except for some aces, winning serves and long returns. Rinderknech had to serve under pressure for the first time. Despite saving four set points, the fifth was fatal. 7-5 Humbert, and 1 set to none.
In the third set, the money time arrives at 5-5. Humbert leads 40-15, but can?t finish the game. Rinderknech has a break point, but Humbert serves a double fault.
In the next game, at 6-5, Rinderknech defends two break points. Then it was Humbert's turn to defend a match point with a beautiful half-volley. Humbert wins the break point and can already breathe a sigh of relief: it's time for the tiebreak.
The Messinian is the first to make a mini break. Three points later, it's a match point in his favour. Ugo Humbert wins 4-6 7-5 7-6(4) in 2h36.
In the semi-finals, his second in Marseille after 2019, it is another Frenchman who awaits him: the Alsatian Pierre-Hugues Herbert, who defeated two-time champion Stefanos Tsitsipas earlier. So, whatever happens, there will be a Frenchman in the final of this 2021 edition.
